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DoorDash Tasks

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Re: DoorDash Tasks

#41
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither of these two things are something that DoorDash as a company can realistically do anything about.

DoorDash lobbies heavily against laws that would regulate labor, or classify its workers as “employees” and thus require they be covered by the minimal protections our country offers.

To be fair, it’s not really their fault that there are people who want to treat work that normally would be considered a way to pick up a few bucks during free time as a full time career.

Sure, go ahead and make fast food delivery a highly regulated line of work that pays $30/hour with benefits. Just don’t be surprised when it no longer becomes economically viable for DoorDash to continue operating.

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#42
post #6

Labour getting ever-granular in the age of micro-loans and RentAHuman. > "Dashers have a new way to earn on their own terms" The classic meaning inversion of precariousness and lack of benefits as a virtue.

Neither of these two things are something that DoorDash as a company can realistically do anything about.

In a certain Euroland country an analogous delivery company just awards the driver minimum hourly payment on certain agreed before hours if they're clearly working but circumstances had them earn less. Minimum wage requirements stifle nothing.

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#43

I had a terrible thought while out on a hike the other day. I'm almost loath to post it on HN because I worry some idiot is going to read it and think it's a good idea. On the other hand, if I thought of it, it's just a matter of time before someone else does. Here is the idea: programmers may move to a DoorDash like model as well in the future. You may have full time employment but it will be at a much lower base sa…

Congratulations, you invented Upwork!

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DoorDash lobbies heavily against laws that would regulate labor, or classify its workers as “employees” and thus require they be covered by the minimal protections our country offers.

If the politicians are bought out by evil DoorDash's lobbying, why don't the voters just vote the politicians out? Do you have any evidence of a politician voting against their constituents' interests for personal gain?

[deleted]

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#46

I had a terrible thought while out on a hike the other day. I'm almost loath to post it on HN because I worry some idiot is going to read it and think it's a good idea. On the other hand, if I thought of it, it's just a matter of time before someone else does. Here is the idea: programmers may move to a DoorDash like model as well in the future. You may have full time employment but it will be at a much lower base sa…

So... contractors? I don't understand how what you're describing is any different.

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#47

If you haven’t figured it out by now the future of all work is transfer learning and encoding human action so that all possible action is mechanized and commoditized. I’ve been obsessed with this problem for the better part of 20 years The fact that we’re finally starting to see it realized is very exciting

It’d be nice if folks like yourself were equally obsessed with the systemic harms that would come about from solving or addressing this problem rather than charging full-speed ahead into the unknown at everyone else’s expense. Problems aren’t solely technological in nature, nor are their impacts and solutions. Never forget the humans behind the models.

What’s that look like in your mind?

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#48
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither of these two things are something that DoorDash as a company can realistically do anything about.

DoorDash lobbies heavily against laws that would regulate labor, or classify its workers as “employees” and thus require they be covered by the minimal protections our country offers.

The question is what happens if these sorts of micro-contract work arrangements are outlawed... is the expectation that these businesses will instead hire these people full time, thus increasing full time employment?

Maybe, although it seems unlikely. These sorts of tasks aren't going to be worth most companies hiring someone to do it full time. Instead, the work simply won't be done and the business will just be a little less efficient and responsive.

The other alternative is that someone would start a specialized service providing each of these types of tasks, and hire full time workers to do the work, and then contract out the services directly.

Is that better for the workers? Maybe for some, they will have full time employment. But will they make more money? Maybe, but now there is a new company extracting profit, with overhead and all the related costs.

Is that a better world for the average person? I don't know. I just don't think the answer is as simple as saying DoorDash obviously makes it worse.

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DoorDash lobbies heavily against laws that would regulate labor, or classify its workers as “employees” and thus require they be covered by the minimal protections our country offers.

If the politicians are bought out by evil DoorDash's lobbying, why don't the voters just vote the politicians out? Do you have any evidence of a politician voting against their constituents' interests for personal gain?

> Do you have any evidence of a politician voting against their constituents' interests for personal gain?

You have to be kidding.

In the current US political system, the hard part would be finding examples of a politician doing anything but.

Re: DoorDash Tasks

#50
post #27
post #7

> Tasks and the new app are currently available in select places in the U.S., excluding California, New York City, Seattle and Colorado. Anyone know why that is? (Claude thinks it's because those places have gig worker protection laws such that "classifying Dashers as independent contractors for non-delivery work is most legally risky")

Those jurisdictions stifle innovation. Thankfully, the vast majority of the US does not do that. Door Dashers in 99% of the US will now have a button to click that will put more money in their pockets. Very good!

Piecemeal labor! Shift work! SRO’s! Unlicensed taxis!

I can't imagine what these innovators will come up with next.

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