IT-Induced Employment Irregularities and Deskilling: Impacts on Temporary Worker Welfare

Temporary and part-time workers constitute an important and increasing segment of the workforce in the United States. In this theoretical paper, we examine the impact of IT-induced employment irregularities and deskilling on physical and mental health and economic well-being of such workers. We draw upon stress process theory, job strain model and job design literature to posit direct and indirect effects of IT-induced employment irregularities and deskilling on worker-level outcomes. This paper contributes to the IS literature by focusing on two related, underexamined phenomena - IT-induced employment irregularities and deskilling – that have the potential to impact temporary workers significantly. We introduce new concepts to the IS literature, such as work hour inadequacy, variability and unpredictability, which may be relevant in diverse employment contexts. We hope this paper motivates IS scholars to conduct rigorous theoretical and empirical research, examining economic, social and health outcomes of IT and AI use on workers.