Are gig economy workers independent contractors or employees?

An Uber Eats food delivery driver cycles along a very busy Oxford Road in Manchester. One of a growing number of delivery riders for Uber's food delivery service as demand in Manchester increases.

An Uber Eats food delivery driver cycles along a very busy Oxford Road in Manchester. One of a growing number of delivery riders for Uber's food delivery service as demand in Manchester increases. Photo credit: shopblocks/CC 2.0, via Flickr

A lot of app-based companies like Uber, GrubHub, and Doordash like to classify their workers as independent contractors rather than employees. However, thanks to a landmark decision the California Supreme Court made last year, that’s getting harder to do. But some people, like exotic dancers and hair stylists, don’t want to be classified as employees.

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Christian Bordal, Yael Even Or, Alexandra Sif Tryggvadottir, Caitlin Plummer, Rosalie Atkinson, Adriana Cargill