How Franchising and Fast Food Led to the Gig Economy

Multiple outlets report that the franchise business model pioneered by the fast food industry in the 1950s established employment practices that later became central to the modern gig economy. The franchise system's approach to outsourcing labor, limiting worker protections, and decentralizing employment responsibility created a template that technology companies later adapted for digital platforms. According to coverage, this historical connection demonstrates how mid-century restaurant franchising inadvertently shaped contemporary labor market structures.