This chapter seeks to outline in a preliminary way the consequences of the pandemic in work in general and especially in digital work in its connection with emotions and the politics of sensibilities. Based on public and private reports and the opinion of experts, some traces are presented here that allow us to reconstruct some changes in the politics of sensibilities that have occurred due to the socio-labour pandemic impact. In this sense, the following argumentative strategy has been developed: 1) the theoretical perspective on the connection between digital and political work of sensibilities is outlined, 2) some of the main consequences of the pandemic at work are synthesized, and 3) brief final openings are given to connect the described scenario and the modifications of the politics of sensibilities.
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Digital labour is one of the pillars of society 4.0 and on a planetary scale it is part of the axes of transformation which accelerates the social structuration of the 21st century. The beginning of the century marked the expansion of the virtual/mobile/digital world, which implied substantial transformation in the fields of Artificial intelligence, economy, society, Gig Data as well as models of construction and analysis of narratives, the developments of Fintech companies, unicorns, Startups, platform work and social media. Everyday life is increasingly a matter of mobile phones, digital devices, social networks and the Internet of Things (Castells, 1989). In such a context, COVID19 outbreak expands generating not only millionaire losses but also radical transformation in labor management, production and good-exchange processes. The present chapter seeks to discuss preliminary the consequences of pandemic in working conditions as well as the digital work as part inherently linked to emotionalities and the politics of sensibilities. Methodologically speaking, we focus on private and public documents, reports and experts´ reviews which help us to reconstruct the narratives revolving around COVID19 and the new normality. In this vein, our goals are threefold: a) to explore the theoretical perspective on the connection between digital and political work of sensibilities, b) to expand the current understanding on main consequences of the Pandemic at work and c) to offer a snapshot on the politics of sensibilities.
The pandemic has brought an increase in delivery work, greater precariousness and uncertainty regarding the future of these and other jobs. Renting industry has occupied a central position in the configuration of the new trade and businesses in the post pandemic days. The multiplication of works as well as the demand does not entail in a rapid gratification for workers. In fact, the workforce was subject to ceaseless exploitation as long as the pandemic. Sebastian Blanco in his Article of last 20th July titled “COVID-19 Means More Packages, and a New Game: Delivery-Driver Tag” reproduces a Wall Street Journal paper on a curious competition between UPS and FedEx drivers expressing one of the axes of the delivery work in the Pandemic: there are more packages to distribute. An interesting aspect of delivery work is constituted by “traditional” companies such as UPS or FedEx, whose delivery drivers have been overworked, these being one of the gears of the device that keeps the world running during closures related to COVID-19 and orders to stay at home. Once people recognized they could shop online rather than in stores, delivery numbers increased radically, starting with what most business-minded people would see as a positive: a 10 percent increase in the first quarter of 2020. More packages, more work, greater “commitment” so as not to lose the job.
The future of Europe seems to be also uncertain as Valeria Pulignano has argued: “The coronavirus crisis has highlighted how the welfare state of the future must include the growing mass of precarious labour, especially among youth” (Pulignano, 2020, p. 1). Pulignano describes how the International Labor Organization (ILO) –at the end of May- demanded rapid and large-scale political actions to act in advance on lasting damage from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among young people. The international organization fears multiple shocks will operate that will lead to a ‘lockdown generation’. Young people were already living in precarious conditions in terms of social and human rights (particularly in participation and collective bargaining) and little or no social protection (without adequate unemployment and health benefits). In the European context, it is easy to see that the changes that have been taking place in the market, work and daily life of workers have suffered a drastic transformation on COVID-19 presence.
According to Esther Lynch (2020), as well as in the welfare state, it was intended to protect workers from the risks and “volatility” of the labor market in the post-COVID-19 times, the reduction of working time and greater autonomy should be on the agenda.
As it is easy to detect on a planetary scale, COVID-19 has radically transformed workplaces, turning offices into empty helmets and turning homes into offices. This is complemented by the demands of hygiene and distancing requirements in sectors ranging from culture and catering to manufacturing and distribution.