Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#11

Post by birdyrooster » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 1:48 PM UTC

rockinghigh wrote: post #8

birdyrooster wrote: post #3

The opponents of this bill claim that they would need to institute shifts. Why so? Why can't they just be part-time employees with flexible schedules?

If all drivers are employees and all show up to work at 10AM when there is little demand, you can’t pay all of them minimum wage. The companies would have to predict demand and ask just enough driver employees to match the demand.

Then why am I paying surge pricing at times of high demand or low supply? Don’t you think that companies can profit share with their employees on that price differential?

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#12

Post by birdyrooster » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 1:50 PM UTC

ergothus wrote: post #10

rockinghigh wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If all drivers are employees and all show up to work at 10AM when there is little demand, you can’t pay all of them minimum wage. The companies would have to predict demand and ask just enough driver employees to match the demand.

Why does "employee" equate to "show up at 10AM" ? Why cant they work the same hours and style they do now, but with the title of "employee"? That's an honest question, I know employment laws are complex and likely didnt include these concepts, but I'm also interested in facts over speculation.

You are correct. They could. This comes down to offering a minimum income to people who work for Uber and Lyft and giving them benefits that they would otherwise never qualify for like paid health insurance.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#13

Post by tenebrisalietum » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 3:22 PM UTC

jbarberu wrote: post #9

I don't understand why the term ride-sharing is even used when talking about Uber and Lyft. Has anyone ever gone with a driver who wasn't just driving an unlicensed cab? Or is it referring to multiple riders sharing one car?

All the Ubers/Lyfts I've used (between 30 and 40 as rough estimate) are people in what looks like their own cars. There's never been any cab insignia anywhere on them.

Re: Uber, Lyft Poised to Lose Fight Against CA Bill to Label Drivers Employees

#14

Post by jbarberu » Tue, Sep 10, 2019, 8:12 PM UTC

tenebrisalietum wrote: post #13

jbarberu wrote: post #9

I don't understand why the term ride-sharing is even used when talking about Uber and Lyft. Has anyone ever gone with a driver who wasn't just driving an unlicensed cab? Or is it referring to multiple riders sharing one car?

All the Ubers/Lyfts I've used (between 30 and 40 as rough estimate) are people in what looks like their own cars. There's never been any cab insignia anywhere on them.

Unlicensed cab as in: driving people from point A -> point B with the purpose of making money, without having a taxi license.