Lyft to give some drivers $10,000 in bonuses, or the option to buy stock

Every article I see, the media seems to support it just a tiny bit more.  When will be confirmed?

New York (CNN Business) - Lyft will pay some of its drivers up to $10,000 in cash bonuses ahead of the company's forthcoming IPO -— an unusual benefit for a portion of the independent contractors who are critical to the company's business model.

The drivers who receive a bonus will be given the option to put that money toward stock in the company.

Lyft detailed the program in IPO paperwork it filed Friday. It's raising as much as $100 million in its public offering, beating competitor Uber to the punch.

The bonus program will provide one-time cash rewards to "recognize drivers who have contributed to our success." Drivers can use those cash bonuses to buy stock in its "directed share program" when the company goes public. Because drivers are independent contractors, they wouldn't traditionally be eligible for such a program, unlike certain employees, investors and board members.

Drivers will be rewarded for hitting certain milestones as of February 25, 2019. Drivers who have completed at least 20,000 rides as of that date will get $10,000, and drivers who have completed between 10,000 and 20,000 rides will get $1,000.

Money will also be reserved for drivers who've served on the company's Driver Advisory Council. They could get $1,000. (If a driver is eligible for multiple cash bonuses, they'll receive the one payout — whichever is the largest.)

It's a token of goodwill for the drivers who are indispensable to the company's core ride-hailing business. It also sets a precedent for rival Uber, which is also expected to go public this year.
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