Algorithmic Management as Private Labour Regulation: A Framework for Standards, Monitoring, Sanctions, and Worker Due Process

This theoretical paper explains how digital control systems act as private labour regulations in employment relationships. It builds on algorithmic management, private regulations and procedural justice scholarship. This paper defines four constitutive functions: standard setting, detection and audit, sanctioning and escalation and contestability. The framework separates regulatory authority from performance analytics and from discretionary supervision. It also identifies negative cases where monitoring intensifies yet regulatory authority does not emerge. A typology maps enforcement intensity against contestability strength and then derives propositions based on conflict, compliance, exit, and voice. Finally, the paper proposes indicators for comparison and policy evaluation across firms and jurisdictions. These include audit couplings, overriding discretion, reversal rates, and the scope of remedies.