Between freedom and fatigue: reimagining workplace happiness in the modern gig workforces
Reni Rosari, Heni Ardianto, Vania Olivine DanariliaPurpose
This study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying quiet quitting in non-traditional work contexts by integrating the job demands–resources (JD-R) framework, social exchange theory and happiness management perspective to explain how gig work influences quiet quitting through emotional exhaustion. The study further investigates the protective role of workplace happiness as a psychological resource that helps to sustain engagement among gig workers.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 425 gig workers in Indonesia between March and May 2025 using purposive sampling and analyzed using SPSS 26 and Hayes' PROCESS Macro (Model 7) to test the mediating role of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of workplace happiness, with bootstrapping procedures (5,000 resamples) applied to ensure robustness.
Findings
These findings indicate that gig work does not directly predict quiet quitting. Instead, its effect operates indirectly through emotional exhaustion, suggesting that disengagement arises from psychological strain rather than from employment conditions alone. Workplace happiness significantly attenuates this relationship, confirming its role as a critical psychological resource.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and focus on a single collectivist context. Future research should adopt longitudinal and cross-cultural designs and consider structural equation modelling to capture more complex relationships.
Practical implications
Organizations and digital platforms should incorporate happiness management practices, including emotional support systems, recognition mechanisms, and digitally mediated social interactions.
Originality/value
This study advances the literature by demonstrating that emotional exhaustion–not gig work itself–is the primary mechanism driving quite quitting and by positioning workplace happiness as a key buffering resource within JD-R framework.