Gig workers include delivery riders, drivers, event staff, freelance designers and temporary warehouse pickers, often booked through an app or agency for a shift or a task. They usually choose when to work and may work for several platforms at once. Their legal status varies: in the UK, someone may be self-employed, a worker or an employee, and each status carries different rights, such as holiday pay.
Gig hiring is fast and repeated, so onboarding large numbers quickly matters more than lengthy interviews. Checks on identity, right to work and any required licences still apply. Employers and platforms benefit from consistent, job-relevant screening and from getting employment status right, since misclassification has been the subject of high-profile UK legal cases. Specific status questions are best taken to an employment adviser.