The relation between a platform worker’s reputation and their perceived usefulness of reputation transfer : mediated by affective - and continuance commitment.

This study takes a look at the underexposed platform worker’s perspective towards the possibility of reputation transfer between online labor platforms (OLPs). More specifically, the proposition was made that one’s reputation could both positively – and negatively influence one’s perceived usefulness of reputation transfer because of it being mediated by both continuance – and affective commitment. Through a survey conducted among 1114 platform workers it was found that even though continuance – and affective commitment did partially mediate the relationship, both the relationships were positive. Besides this, the importance of the OLP’s HR practices for a platform worker’s commitment were shown. More specifically, HR practices related to training, appraisal, and autonomy increased a platform worker’s continuance commitment through increasing their platform specific human capital. Highlighting a paradoxical effect these HR activities can have in an OLP environment: on the one hand they can increase a platform worker’s job satisfaction, and on the other hand they can lock them in by increasing their continuance commitment.