Work autonomy and happiness at work: A Study on Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers in Yogyakarta

Abstrak

The development of technology and digital economy has changed the world of work, including online transportation. As part of the gig economy, online ojek drivers have more flexible work than conventional workers. Work autonomy, i.e. control over time, methods, and work environment, plays an important role in psychological well-being and work happiness. The research subjects consisted of 206 online drivers selected using purposive sampling. The criteria for participants were have worked as online drivers for at least three months and to possess an active online ride-hailing account. The measurement instruments used were the Work Autonomy Scale and the Workplace Happiness Scale. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results indicated a significant positive relationship between work autonomy and workplace happiness. These findings highlight the importance of work autonomy in enhancing workplace happiness among online drivers. Additional analyses revealed no significant differences in workplace happiness based on demographic factors such as gender, age, place of origin, ride-hailing company, or length of employment. However, a significant difference was found in workplace happiness based on the level of education. These findings provide valuable insights for developing interventions aimed at increasing workplace happiness among online drivers by enhancing work autonomy.