Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice

In the platform economy, customers are the primary interaction partners of gig workers, and their behaviors and attitudes significantly influence gig workers’ work experiences and behavioral responses. Based on the stressor–emotion model and social exchange theory, this paper systematically explores...

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Main Authors: Yanfeng Liu, Lanhui Cai, Xueqin Wang, Xueli Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/4/246
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author Yanfeng Liu
Lanhui Cai
Xueqin Wang
Xueli Tan
author_facet Yanfeng Liu
Lanhui Cai
Xueqin Wang
Xueli Tan
author_sort Yanfeng Liu
collection DOAJ
description In the platform economy, customers are the primary interaction partners of gig workers, and their behaviors and attitudes significantly influence gig workers’ work experiences and behavioral responses. Based on the stressor–emotion model and social exchange theory, this paper systematically explores the formation mechanism of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study employs structural equation modeling to analyze survey data collected from 385 registered gig workers on crowdsourced delivery platforms in China. The results indicate that customer injustice increases gig workers’ negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior while decreasing customer commitment. Furthermore, negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer commitment mediate the relationship between customer injustice and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. Additionally, job demands act as a buffering mechanism in the occurrence of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study is the first to systematically focus on customer-directed counterproductive work behavior among crowdsourced delivery gig workers, enriching the existing literature. The findings provide practical insights for crowdsourced delivery platforms, aiding in understanding gig workers’ work psychology and optimizing labor management strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-bf4e1fa88f4e410c9ca76f3f8f4ce4552025-08-20T02:18:20ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542025-04-0113424610.3390/systems13040246Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer InjusticeYanfeng Liu0Lanhui Cai1Xueqin Wang2Xueli Tan3Graduate School of Management of Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48547, Republic of KoreaDepartment of International Logistics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06874, Republic of KoreaDepartment of International Logistics, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06874, Republic of KoreaGraduate School of Management of Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48547, Republic of KoreaIn the platform economy, customers are the primary interaction partners of gig workers, and their behaviors and attitudes significantly influence gig workers’ work experiences and behavioral responses. Based on the stressor–emotion model and social exchange theory, this paper systematically explores the formation mechanism of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study employs structural equation modeling to analyze survey data collected from 385 registered gig workers on crowdsourced delivery platforms in China. The results indicate that customer injustice increases gig workers’ negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior while decreasing customer commitment. Furthermore, negative emotions, perceived organizational injustice, and customer commitment mediate the relationship between customer injustice and customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. Additionally, job demands act as a buffering mechanism in the occurrence of customer-directed counterproductive work behavior. This study is the first to systematically focus on customer-directed counterproductive work behavior among crowdsourced delivery gig workers, enriching the existing literature. The findings provide practical insights for crowdsourced delivery platforms, aiding in understanding gig workers’ work psychology and optimizing labor management strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/4/246customer-directed counterproductive work behaviorcrowdsourced delivery gig workerscustomer injusticestressor–emotion modelsocial exchange theory
spellingShingle Yanfeng Liu
Lanhui Cai
Xueqin Wang
Xueli Tan
Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
Systems
customer-directed counterproductive work behavior
crowdsourced delivery gig workers
customer injustice
stressor–emotion model
social exchange theory
title Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
title_full Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
title_fullStr Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
title_full_unstemmed Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
title_short Customer-Directed Counterproductive Work Behavior of Gig Workers in Crowdsourced Delivery: A Perspective on Customer Injustice
title_sort customer directed counterproductive work behavior of gig workers in crowdsourced delivery a perspective on customer injustice
topic customer-directed counterproductive work behavior
crowdsourced delivery gig workers
customer injustice
stressor–emotion model
social exchange theory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/13/4/246
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AT lanhuicai customerdirectedcounterproductiveworkbehaviorofgigworkersincrowdsourceddeliveryaperspectiveoncustomerinjustice
AT xueqinwang customerdirectedcounterproductiveworkbehaviorofgigworkersincrowdsourceddeliveryaperspectiveoncustomerinjustice
AT xuelitan customerdirectedcounterproductiveworkbehaviorofgigworkersincrowdsourceddeliveryaperspectiveoncustomerinjustice