Employee vs. Contractor. Has everyone considered the downside of becoming an Uber employee?

457 Driver Driver

Posted 5 years, 6 months ago

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BrianTheScrewDriver

457 Driver Driver

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While many CA drivers are arguing for becoming an employee, I have to ask whether they realize they will be losing all the flexibility and other wonderful things about the current situation.

While being an employee may get us some benefits, such as health insurance, liability insurance, steadier income, vacation days, etc., we will lose all the flexibility about our jobs. For example:

Ability to CANCEL and DECLINE certain trips
Ability to dictate the days and hours we work
Ability to have other jobs and keep Uber driving just a side gig.

What else can you come up with?

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MaisieCy89

87 Driver

I will add more to the list, Brian.

Ability to have a webcam in your car
Ability to sell products in your car. (Think CARGO)
Ability to NOT carry a car seat if you don't want to
Ability to carry something to protect yourself
Ability to wear whatever you want.
Ability to decorate your own cabin.
Ability to drive your own car (potentially)
Ability to play music you want.
Ability to pull over and sleep in a parking lot.

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StevenL-NYU

152 Driver Driver

The vote seems to be split on this one. I’m for being an employee to protect the full time drivers. Two arguments

1) I think people who want ultimate flexibility are part-time or occasional drivers. I feel the full time drivers need the help, and frankly the full time drivers are enough to cover the existing demand. Let’s bring taxing back to the professional drivers. I don’t think we need more SUPPLY. This industry has existed for thousands of years and it’s been fine.

2) The nay sayers AND Uber are saying we will lose all flexibility and paint the picture that we will be working 9-5 like at office jobs. This isn’t true. Look at the taxi industry. Hell, many of us all used to be taxi drivers. Being a taxi driver does have flexibility and you can work the days and times you want. (When you work, you may need to commit to a window, but that isn’t a bad thing. That keeps us committed and it’s easier to control the supply on the road. (Instead of Uber doing all kinds of shady things to do this.)

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MickDorsey

108 Driver

Ironically though, they will lose control over certain things when we become employees. For example, bow much they pay us, giving us vacation days, benefits, basic employment rights.

The flexibility goes both ways. While we current have freedom as contractors, Uber also has an ability to specify any prices and fire (deactivate) is whenever they want for whatever reasons. They also don’t have to tell us how we exactly are compensated. These are some freedom Uber enjoys right now.

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MaisieCy89
87 Driver
5 years ago
I will add more to the list, Brian.
- Ability to have a webcam in your car
- Ability to sell products in your car. (Think CARGO)
- Ability to NOT carry a car seat if you don't want to
- Ability to carry something to protect yourself
- Ability to wear whatever you want.
- Ability to decorate your own cabin.
- Ability to drive your own car (potentially)
- Ability to play music you want.
- Ability to pull over and sleep in a parking lot.
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  StevenL-NYU
  152 Driver Driver
  5 years ago
  I don’t think Uber would restrict any of these things. Maybe a few.
  It doesn’t mean you will lose all control. Come on
  
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  TheMcTavish
  11
  5 years ago
  Half these things taxi drivers already do.
  Wait, are they contractors?
  
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  MaisieCy89
  87 Driver
  5 years ago
  
  Yes. lol. You are confusing the Taxi vs. Uber disussion with Employee vs. Contractor discussion.
  
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StevenL-NYU
152 Driver Driver
5 years ago
The vote seems to be split on this one. I’m for being an employee to protect the full time drivers. Two arguments
1) I think people who want ultimate flexibility are part-time or occasional drivers. I feel the full time drivers need the help, and frankly the full time drivers are enough to cover the existing demand. Let’s bring taxing back to the professional drivers. I don’t think we need more SUPPLY. This industry has existed for thousands of years and it’s been fine.
2) The nay sayers AND Uber are saying we will lose all flexibility and paint the picture that we will be working 9-5 like at office jobs. This isn’t true. Look at the taxi industry. Hell, many of us all used to be taxi drivers. Being a taxi driver does have flexibility and you can work the days and times you want. (When you work, you may need to commit to a window, but that isn’t a bad thing. That keeps us committed and it’s easier to control the supply on the road. (Instead of Uber doing all kinds of shady things to do this.)

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  jbauer
  398 Driver
  5 years ago
  Right. Like taxis.
  
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  BGraft89
  622 Rider Driver
  5 years ago
  Steven has a point. I am in the game for flexibility but Uber is really riding that. It doesn’t mean Uber being our employer means we lose all control over what we have.
  Let’s look at it realistically.
  We will keep our cars.
  I bet we can still work flexibility hours.
  I bet we can still have dashcams
  I bet we can still choose our music and how to decorate the vehicle.
  I bet it’ll still be up to us to how to manage customers.
  Let’s not fall into Uber’s propaganda here.
  
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momof4
8198 Rider Driver
5 years ago
If we were to become Employees it shouldnt affect what hours we work. That would be up to Uber & Lyft. Just because your an employee doesnt mean you have to work set hrs. Dont think Uber & Lyft want that much work to make up schedules anyway. I am sure we would be forced to take every ride requests that hits our phone. We are not supposed to carry weapons now. Employee or not rather get deactivated/fired than be dead. If I am not mistaken that $ per mile we get to write off, say goodbye to that if we become employees. Regardless if any rules they would impose I want no parts of bring their employee. I also dont trust Gov. officials either. They are in for kick backs or some other personal gain. Anytime they get involved just means more $ taken away from us. I just dont see us becoming employees Uber and Lyft will be bankrupt.

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  JPoland
  179 Driver Driver
  5 years ago
  I agree about the hours. The work arrangement like the hours won’t change.
  What would change are the rules. It basically means Uber can dictate more what we do. Accepting and picking up every customer I’m sure is one of those.
  We would be like the subway or bus drivers.
  
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  momof4
  8198 Rider Driver
  5 years ago
  
  Exactly. We would have to take every crappy trip that hits our phone. Including low rated riders and riders with fake names. I am not accepting a trip from D!@kSwallower at 2am with a 4.2 rating.
  
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Bigfrank
447 Rider Driver Driver
5 years ago
TOTAL CONTROL is what UBER will gain which will be our loss

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  MickDorsey
  108 Driver
  5 years ago
  Ironically though, they will lose control over certain things when we become employees. For example, bow much they pay us, giving us vacation days, benefits, basic employment rights.
  The flexibility goes both ways. While we current have freedom as contractors, Uber also has an ability to specify any prices and fire (deactivate) is whenever they want for whatever reasons. They also don’t have to tell us how we exactly are compensated. These are some freedom Uber enjoys right now.
  
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  momof4
  8198 Rider Driver
  5 years ago
  Well stated BigFrank!
  
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momof4
8198 Rider Driver
5 years ago
I do agree not really sure what they are trying to do in CA because although they are asking for all those things they dont want to be employees. If your a Pvt. Contractor you cant expect what they are asking for. I dont have the answers but maybe they need to come up with something in the middle for "gig workers" if thats possible. Do they realize health insurance alone will still cost them $. Not many companies with employees pay 100% of their premium. Maybe have people sign up as Independent Contractior they get to keep their 75/80%. If your an employee that wants all those benefits then take X amt out of each mile. Uber & Lyft have both said if they have to make drivers an employee their business is done. I've been following a few Rideshare You Tubers. One of them has started some new things and is looking into possibly starting a new ride share company (not tryp lol). He has a lot of good videos up. If you havent seen them you should check them out.
WWW.rid…

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I do agree not really sure what they are trying to do in CA because although they are asking for all those things they dont want to be employees. If your a Pvt. Contractor you cant expect what they are asking for. I dont have the answers but maybe they need to come up with something in the middle for "gig workers" if thats possible. Do they realize health insurance alone will still cost them $. Not many companies with employees pay 100% of their premium. Maybe have people sign up as Independent Contractior they get to keep their 75/80%. If your an employee that wants all those benefits then take X amt out of each mile. Uber & Lyft have both said if they have to make drivers an employee their business is done. I've been following a few Rideshare You Tubers. One of them has started some new things and is looking into possibly starting a new ride share company (not tryp lol). He has a lot of good videos up. If you havent seen them you should check them out.
WWW.rideshareprofessor.com (Rideshare Professor)
WWW.Dustin is Driving - sorry cant seem to find link but this will take you to his channel
WWW.youtube.com/channel/UCIJS Kevin The Apptrepreneur
All of these guys are pretty good and up to date on whats happening out there with Uber and Lyft. One of them is on the negative side:) They will let you know what is going on out there.

I do not want to be an employee. I like making my own hours, declining or taking a trip, instant pay. What I dont like is the rates (Lyft just made one on XL rides in many markets), no safety for drivers, no respect for drivers. Increase the rates, make riders sign up with valid gov issued ID (along with the friends they order for), real names of riders (not names like to the window, d!@k swallower, and the man, etc), deactivate riders with bad ratings(Uber says they will but not believing it), transparency, honesty, respect, and 75/25% or 89/20% (not the bs with upfront pricing). Most of what I mentioned will not cost them a dime.

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liny2sd
Driver
4 years ago
Can someone please explain to me why you cannot have all of these liberties and flexibilities as an employee? Yes, I understand as a W-2 employee, the employer, the rideshare company, CAN tell you what to do with regards to all of this but, whether or not they actually DO tell you what to do with regards to all of this seems to be the real issue here, and thus, is the determining factor as to whether it's better to be W-2 or 1099 as a rideshare worker. You could have the best of both worlds by having consistent pay, paid time off and health insurance, along with having the flexibility and freedom, as long as the employer takes a hands off approach to their employees, and essentially treats them like 1099 but, pays them as W2 to keep everyone happy. Yes, the execs will have to accept a slight decrease in their profits in order to provide benefits without increasing fares but, that should be common sense. Keep the fares the same, continue with profits, think longevity. So what, VP&#…

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Can someone please explain to me why you cannot have all of these liberties and flexibilities as an employee? Yes, I understand as a W-2 employee, the employer, the rideshare company, CAN tell you what to do with regards to all of this but, whether or not they actually DO tell you what to do with regards to all of this seems to be the real issue here, and thus, is the determining factor as to whether it's better to be W-2 or 1099 as a rideshare worker. You could have the best of both worlds by having consistent pay, paid time off and health insurance, along with having the flexibility and freedom, as long as the employer takes a hands off approach to their employees, and essentially treats them like 1099 but, pays them as W2 to keep everyone happy. Yes, the execs will have to accept a slight decrease in their profits in order to provide benefits without increasing fares but, that should be common sense. Keep the fares the same, continue with profits, think longevity. So what, VP's make $1.2 billion this year instead of $1.5 billion (made up numbers just for example). The overall increase in quality of life is worth the investment. It provides exponential aide to the drivers, and has no impact on the exec going from $1.5 billion to $1.2 billion. When society does better, everyone does better. So, why is societal improvement not possible here? Honestly, I would like to know. Thank you for your input. "Need input." - Johnny 5

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momof4
8198 Rider Driver
5 years ago
Uber and Lyft hasnt treated drivers well or respected them as independent contractors. They sure as hell wont respect us as employess. We will definately be slaves to the app and the companies.

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momof4
8198 Rider Driver
5 years ago
What worries me the most is whatever happens in CA is probably going to go down in every state. Our future is in the hands of CA drivers. Hope they do the right thing or we could all be screwed.

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  StuffinMuffin
  864 Rider Driver
  5 years ago
  Right. The precedence will be set. Scary
  
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EjiEzeEze
324 Rider Driver
5 years ago
Yes, I would miss my 2PM naps.

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EjiEzeEze
324 Rider Driver
5 years ago
I agree!!
The government's goal is to make driving a full time job, like it was for taxis before. Why the heck would we want to go back to that? I guess it's natural that the taxi market fell apart?
It's a big full circle. We are about to REVERT all the great things Uber has done . I cannot believe California's stance is that we go back to the original crappy taxi system.

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DDominico69
189 Driver
5 years ago (edited 5 years ago)
Becoming an employee will give us many rights including pay and protection.
We can also restrict Uber from hiring too many drivers and saturating the market.

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Employee vs. Contractor. Has everyone considered the downside of becoming an Uber employee?

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BrianTheScrewDriver

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