In January 2021 the U.S. Labor Department ruled that gig workers, such as Uber and Doordash drivers, would not be covered by federal minimum-wage and overtime laws. The ruling means that gig workers could be responsible for paying their employer a portion of social security taxes and would not be eligible to receive health insurance or retirement benefits. U.S. states aren’t required to follow the federal rule and can pass their own laws regulating these workers. Proponents say “flexible work” is overwhelmingly preferred by those who choose to earn on gig-economy platforms…
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@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
No
@9FMX7PR1yr1Y
They are workers just like everyone else and they also work long hours like normal workers. Sometimes they work extra time
@ISIDEWITH4yrs4Y
Yes, if they work at least forty hours per week
@9ZV99MK 2mos2MO
Good point, but they aren’t really officially part of a job with someone overseeing what they are doing
@95HVTXL2yrs2Y
no because they can quit when every they want they are their own boss. but uber pays them
@95SYXDM2yrs2Y
No, but Contract work should be expanded to include more protections. With technological advances, we will see a move toward more freelance style work. Workers deserve to be protected, always.
@97ZW7SD2yrs2Y
No, but contract/gig workers should receive better protections and benefits
@93Z8WKT2yrs2Y
No, but these workers should be afforded some semblance of insurance in case of an accident while working on the company's behalf
@9XZMKGQ3mos3MO
Are taxi cab drivers classified this way? What problems have they encountered? My wife drives for DoorDash and the pay is horrible. Something needs to change, but that may just have to be changed by someone who cares, and has the ambition to create a better system for the "gig workers" hired
No, but they should still be entitled to the government safety nets that typical "employees" have.
@97Q9Q6N2yrs2Y
No, they should be classified as entrepreneurs
@9W6JLYC3mos3MO
I believe that gig workers should be given more thorough background checks before being employed, just to avoid employing a dangerous individual. Otherwise, I do consider gig workers to be employees.
@97QJZVYProgressive 4mos4MO
Depends on the instance and how the company treats the worker. In certain instances, yes, in others, no.
@9TQ8JH64mos4MO
Classifying employees as independent contractors is one of the oldest tax dodges in the book. These companies exert sufficient control over the workers so that are employees and the employers should not be able to dodge payroll tax liability.
@9T6J5XJ4mos4MO
Yes, corporations such as Uber find loopholes in the laws of contract workers and will not pay these workers fairly otherwise.
@9ZN3V7PLibertarian2mos2MO
I don't think the government should be able to say who is an employee and who isn't and I think benefits like health insurance should be between employer and employee
@9XK6HC9Republican3mos3MO
yes and no because i think that they should but also no because they do not have a manager and someone that keeps things straight
@9X99XTLRepublican3mos3MO
They should be classified as employees as Uber is classified as a company, so Uber has to hire someone to drive around classifying them as employees.
@9X66YRL3mos3MO
I think this is something that should be decided by the state, but if they work sufficient enough hours then I think they should be classified as employees.
@9X5TRDH3mos3MO
No, There is no company to keep them organized or self sustainable. And they cant be trusted all the time because of the stuff they do.
@9WTRQBK3mos3MO
No they should be classified as an independent contractor but the required to make at least minimum wage.
@9WGVXZ83mos3MO
No, As long as they can set their own hours and do not report directly to a supervisor but are instead held to an employment contract.
@9W8SK533mos3MO
Create a new classification for gig workers, and they must make less than a certain amount to meet the classification.
@54GWHT8 3mos3MO
No, they should be independent contractors, but companies should still be required to pay a living wage for their services.
@9RBX4VF6mos6MO
I think it depends on the contract. They can be either full time employees or independent contractors
@9R4WZZ26mos6MO
Where did you get this stat: "The majority of flexible workers work less than 10 hours per week." I could not find it anywhere. It seems extremely misleading in the context of this debate/question.
@9PXSM4W7mos7MO
NO, as they are self-employed, and just like laws and regulations exist, gig workers should still be able to have protections and benefits as any employee with some form of government involvement to ensure workers are protected and have benefits within a company means.
@9JC2QS9 12mos12MO
No, but workers should have protection from with basic employees rights, overtime, safety, discriminations,etc
Depends if they are an entrepreneur and had started their own business, then they could probably be classified as the manager.
@9HNMJ861yr1Y
Depends on the hours and the money made. Less than a certain amount less than 35-40hrs and 20k not employees. Same standard as taxes
@9HD56371yr1Y
Yes, and they should recieve a means-tested self-employed minimum wage (or self-employed living wage)
@9HBZSD41yr1Y
Yes if they and the company are entering into a contract and that company is paying them for their work.
@9GVQGP3Libertarian1yr1Y
Either way, the government should never intervene in a contract between a private company and worker
@9GSCN7K1yr1Y
Companies meeting specific income and employee thresholds should be incentivized to offer the CHOICE to employees.
@9G9FFC71yr1Y
I mean you can do like 1-2 Uber drives and just quit forever and start again 1 year later so not really, but if you do it full time and you sign agreements and whatnot why not.
The current guidelines on how to tell if someone is an employee or a contractor are sufficient; they just need to be enforced.
@9FTXBL51yr1Y
Yes, all gig workers should be fairly compensated as part-time or full-time employees depending on the amount they work
@9FG5Z2D1yr1Y
if that;s all they do for income then yes if it's used as a side form of income then no
@9F39NT31yr1Y
Yes, and they should be payed a living wage, as well as being paid per mile.
@9DX79WD1yr1Y
Yes, but nationalize transportation services.
@9DTM2W91yr1Y
Yes, if they work at least 15 hrs per week
@9DSW68Y1yr1Y
Yes, if working more than 15 hours a week. If part time is employment, part time gig work is employment.
@9DM99R91yr1Y
Yes and they must be allowed to unionize.
@9DK594W1yr1Y
Yes, if they work 32 hours a week.
Yes, if they treat it like a normal job.
Yes, and abolish private property and unionize all people
@9LF6MVQ10mos10MO
If they work under a company/cooperation, then yes, they are employees. If not, then they are self employed.
@9KY2WZQ10mos10MO
They are lumpen proletariet they are proletatrit however they do not directly produce capital for a capital owner so they
@9JHVTCPProgressive12mos12MO
they should be able to make that decision for themselves. if they want to be a full time employee then they they can sign up for that, but if its just a side gig to earn more money then that’s their choice .
@9JC633B12mos12MO
Uber, Doordash, Lyft, etc. should have 2 options. One: As an employee to work a set amount of hours per week with a company car provided from a local lot, but the driver is responsible for fuel cost only, for a set amount of pay plus tips. Or option 2: to classify as an independent contractor with their own vehicle where they receive a flat rate per engagement plus tips.
@9DCSS7M1yr1Y
No, but they should have more protections and benefits
@9DCF44L1yr1Y
They should be if they work more than a certain number of hours, around twenty five or so.
@9D8JZSB1yr1Y
Yes, they work for pay. Part time workers are are classified as employees. A server is still an employee and makes money on tips, but a driver does the same and uses their own gas.
@8ZMWDD63yrs3Y
Yes, if they work at least twenty hours per week.
@8Q6K9GG4yrs4Y
It depends on how long they do it and if thats their only job
@5QMTCKDConstitution2yrs2Y
They should be able to choose what they want to be classified as
@95RBNYZ2yrs2Y
No, but only if the government is providing healthcare and retirement savings and the rules regarding independent contractor relationships to their employers are reformed to be more equitable.
@947ZBV52yrs2Y
Stop regulating labor and it would not matter
@944QNMB2yrs2Y
Leave it up to employers what they offer, and to ees what they accept
@8Z5M8LG3yrs3Y
Companies should be forced to provide healthcare and other benefits to gig workers and they should be classified as employees.
@9BXCHQB2yrs2Y
This probably depends how much they do that "gig" service during each week or pay period.
@9BMPPHK2yrs2Y
@9779MGX2yrs2Y
Yes as long as they work very hard and care for what they do
@96BY7RP2yrs2Y
yes, and the government should never intervene in a contract between a private company and worker
Yes because they also work just as hard as everyone else
@9636TMG2yrs2Y
Yes, as long as they put in the work and get paid.
@962BXNN2yrs2Y
Yes, Their working so yes
@95Y98D62yrs2Y
Yes, if someone regularly works for a business, they should be classified as employees.
@95B37Y82yrs2Y
That is their decision. But it should not remove the obligation of companies to pay soc.Sec., FICA, Un Employment Taxes.
@955NZJ62yrs2Y
need to look into this more.
@952R6NW2yrs2Y
Yes, if they work over 28 hours per week
@94VR2J32yrs2Y
Yes, and the government should do more to protect worker's rights
@94N6DBXProgressive2yrs2Y
They should have the option to classify as an employee as there are pros and cons either way
all companies should be forced to provide benefits to any 40-hour-a-week workers who have been with a company 9 months or longer.
@94BZFT52yrs2Y
Technically they are employed .
Yes, and all companies should be forced to provide benefits to any 40-hour-a-week workers who have been with a company 9 months or longer.
Yes, and close the misclassification loophole which allows the gig economy to exist.
@Cathleen624Democrat3yrs3Y
Yes if they work at least 32 hrs per week and then should receive benefits
@93RFP8KLibertarian3yrs3Y
The worker relationship should be up to the businesses, not to governments.
@93PCTPP3yrs3Y
The option should be offered to gig workers to be classified as a W2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor and depending on which one they choose, employee benefits should be offered accordingly.
@93NZLXG3yrs3Y
Option to be an employee if they want that
@93NDCFX3yrs3Y
No, but their pay needs to be regulated better.
@93M9BZGIndependent3yrs3Y
Yes but do not allow the government to intervene with Uber policies and locations.
Yes, it should be optional for small companies but mandatory when companies have over 100 contractors with the same job performed (ex: Uber)
@93LVWC93yrs3Y
They should be considered workers if they have had proper interviews, background checks, and drug test done. This can also lead to the safety of passengers.
@93K5WWD3yrs3Y
They should not have special exceptions. Either all employers have gig workers to as 1099 or we all do not. Why do my gig workers have to be employees and Uber can have them as 1099
Yes, and they should receive a portion of their company's profits.
@939R7RL3yrs3Y
Choice is a great word here.. leave them alone to choose so there reallt is a choice to be independent and quit trying to unionize everything
@NGR03207Constitution3yrs3Y
Yes, if they work at least 30 hours per week
@92YBLK63yrs3Y
No, and ban misclassification of independent contractors to abolish the gig economy
Yes, and abolish the gig economy
@92W4ZNN3yrs3Y
i mean yes because the people that are getting a ride pay them but she also get taxes bc they have a job
@92M6T9J3yrs3Y
Does it matter? Theyre making money arent they? Who cares what you call it?
@92K2XL93yrs3Y
Depends on what duties and requirements the employer requires them to perform/adhere to.
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