L’entreprise et la régulation du travail à l’heure du numérique

The author examines how digital tools disrupt the three pillars of labor regulation: professional, social, and managerial dialogue. The text describes a shift from hierarchical management to a network-based 'economy of reputation' where workers' value is determined by their digital rating and professional networks. It suggests that while large firms may maintain power through monopolies and intellectual property, the future of work lies in 'contributive companies' that prioritize professional support over control. The document also highlights the emergence of new forms of digital labor organization, such as the Freelancers Union in the US, to combat precariousness and individualism.

• Digital technologies are destabilizing the three traditional processes of labor regulation: professional dialogue (peer cooperation), social dialogue (management and staff representatives), and managerial dialogue (hierarchical instructions).
• Cooperation is increasingly structured by social networks and collaborative platforms, leading to project-based work that transcends internal company boundaries and includes a mix of employees, subcontractors, and freelancers.
• A 'reputation economy' has emerged where a worker's value and ability to choose projects are determined by their digital rating, e-reputation, and professional network on platforms like LinkedIn or Viadeo.
• The traditional justification for the firm—reducing transaction costs—is challenged by digital tools, as internal bureaucratic silos often make internal knowledge exchange more costly than external transactions.
• Management is shifting from a model of control and prescription to one of professional support and coaching, where the manager acts as a 'gardener of potentials' and a connector between ecosystems.
• Traditional trade unionism is evolving into a hybrid of advocacy and service-based unionism to support hyper-mobile digital workers, exemplified by the Freelancers Union in the US.
• In New York, the 'Freelance isn’t Free Act' passed in October 2016 protects independent digital workers by requiring written payment terms and procedures for contracts exceeding 800 dollars over four months.

APA

Richer, M. (2018). L’entreprise et la régulation du travail à l’heure du numérique. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/lentreprise-et-la-regulation-du-travail-a-lheure-du-numerique/

Chicago

Richer, Martin. L’entreprise et la régulation du travail à l’heure du numérique. Green European Journal, 2018. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/lentreprise-et-la-regulation-du-travail-a-lheure-du-numerique/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Richer |first1=Martin |title=L’entreprise et la régulation du travail à l’heure du numérique |publisher=Green European Journal |date=23 July 2018 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/lentreprise-et-la-regulation-du-travail-a-lheure-du-numerique/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{richer2018lentreprise, author = {Richer, Martin}, title = {{L’entreprise et la régulation du travail à l’heure du numérique}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2018}, month = jul, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/lentreprise-et-la-regulation-du-travail-a-lheure-du-numerique/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }