workerseither

Workerseither is a neologism used in labor studies and online discourse to describe a worker who operates under two alternative employment arrangements within a single context, such as being eligible for either on-site shifts or remote tasks, or dividing time between two employers or teams. The term signals a binary frame imposed by managerial policy, labor markets, or contractual structures, rather than a stable occupational category.

The word blends "worker" and "either" and appears to have emerged in online discussions in the early 2020s, gaining traction in debates about flexible work, scheduling, and labor protections. It is often used to discuss how workers navigate competing demands, what rights and benefits apply across arrangements, and how contingency or gig-like features intersect with full-time employment.

In usage, "workerseither" is typically employed as a descriptive label for policy analysis, rather than a formal classification. Discussions emphasize issues such as access to benefits and overtime rules across modalities, predictability of schedules, and the clarity of assignment and compensation. Critics argue that the term can be vague or evasive, collapsing diverse forms of work—remote, in-person, hybrid, and gig work—into a single category and potentially obscuring differences in bargaining power and protections.

See also flexible work, remote work, on-demand labor, gig economy, labor rights.