Politics-What's on your mind?

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by Orema

What Happened in California Is a Cautionary Tale for Us All

[...]here’s the catch: Workers will be paid only for “engaged time,” defined as the time between receiving a request and dropping off the passenger. This is far less than what’s required under laws for employees, who must be compensated for all work time. About a third of drivers’ work time wouldn’t fall within this definition of “engaged time,” according to a study funded by the companies themselves. Workers will not be paid for time spent getting gas, waiting for a ride request or cleaning and sanitizing their cars.

Plus, 30 cents per mile doesn’t cover all vehicle-related expenses; by comparison, the Internal Revenue Service’s optional standard deductible rate for the costs of operating a car for business is 57.5 cents per mile. And as independent contractors, drivers won’t have a right to overtime pay for long workweeks, as is required for employees. In light of all this, a study by three research groups at the University of California, Berkeley, found that Uber and Lyft drivers would be guaranteed only an estimated $5.64 per hour. This no doubt would have surprised 40 percent of those in a survey of early voters who said they had supported Proposition 22 to ensure workers earned livable wages.

Finally there is the issue of benefits. Gig companies have used snazzy “portable” benefits language, but Proposition 22 gives workers crumbs compared to what it takes away. Companies must provide a “health care subsidy” to people working at least 15 hours of “engaged time.” At 30 weekly hours, the subsidy would average about $1.22 per hour, or just over $36.00 a week, according to one analysis, a paltry sum compared with what workers would receive as employees who are paid for all of their work time — not just two-thirds of it.[...]

California has always been a bellwether. This time, let’s not follow its lead.

This is awful, and i do think that other states WILL follow California's lead. I feel like companies in general are trying to shed employees any way they can-- from outsourcing to gig-ification to independent contracting to adjunct faculty to part-time only.

After experiencing this pandemic as an essential worker, I'm to the point where i am not even sure we wouldn't have been safer if everyone WAS an independent contractor (assuming Dems get some protections in place). I don't know that we SHOULD be in monogamous employment relationships. Its supposed to provide security and stability, but it can become a hostage situation.

If the Dems are able to pass VERY meaningful health-care reform with a public option, a lot of people can be liberated from some extremely toxic employment situations.