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> why does Uber attract so much criticism? Because you're looking at the benefits in a vacuum. This is a company the skirts the law and intentionally blurs the

> why does Uber attract so much criticism? Because you're looking at the benefits in a vacuum. This is a company the skirts the law and intentionally blurs the line between employee and contractor for profit. It is entirely possible that driving for Uber is a rational choice for some people, and at the same time, that Uber is undervaluing their labor and taking advantage of them. Similarly, in the past, people made the rational choice to sell themselves into indentured servitude. People also made the rational choice to sell their children to factory owners or into marriages for dowries. Typically, if people had bargaining power through, say, collective action, there would be a corrective force when a sudden unilateral decision to reduce compensation by 25% is made.

ars 8y ago
> and intentionally blurs the line between employee and contractor for profit. What profit are they making by doing that? > Similarly, in the past, people made the rational choice to sell themselves into indentured servitude. People also made the rational choice to sell their children to factory owners or into marriages for dowries. And are you blaming the person who took them it, or the conditions that led to that? > Typically, if people had bargaining power through, say, collective action, there would be a corrective force when a sudden unilateral decision to reduce compensation by 25% is made. But they do have power. They have the power to not work for Uber. If they did that and there were not enough drivers then Uber would raise rates, either permanently or with Surge pricing. So they actually have MORE power than an employee in the same situation: The employee would lose their job, but Uber drivers can just refuse to work.
- fucking_tragedy 8y ago
  > What profit are they making by doing that? They're shedding expensive employee entitlements and liabilities. > They have the power to not work for Uber. A person's ability to exercise their power is proportional to the their financial security. A hungry person will have to make decisions in desperation to secure their next meal. A person behind on their rent will take whatever opportunity they can to secure a roof over their head.
  - ars 8y ago
    > They're shedding expensive employee entitlements and liabilities. If they paid those, they would just pay the person less. It doesn't actually change anything financially for the company. >A person's ability to exercise their power is proportional to the their financial security. A hungry person will have to make decisions in desperation to secure their next meal. A person behind on their rent will take whatever opportunity they can to secure a roof over their head. And? What does any of that have to do with Uber? They offered a job, either the person is better off with it, or they aren't. It's not like there is a monopoly here. If Uber raised their rates there would be less trips taken, and less drivers would have jobs. If the drivers feel they aren't making enough money, they would drive less, or not at all. Then rates would go up (if by no other means then by surge pricing). I've talked to Uber drivers - by far, dwarfing all other issues, their #1 issue is there are not enough customers. If they raised rates there would be even fewer customers - how does that help anyone?

ars 8y ago

> and intentionally blurs the line between employee and contractor for profit. What profit are they making by doing that? > Similarly, in the past, people made the rational choice to sell themselves into indentured servitude. People also made the rational choice to sell their children to factory owners or into marriages for dowries. And are you blaming the person who took them it, or the conditions that led to that? > Typically, if people had bargaining power through, say, collective action, there would be a corrective force when a sudden unilateral decision to reduce compensation by 25% is made. But they do have power. They have the power to not work for Uber. If they did that and there were not enough drivers then Uber would raise rates, either permanently or with Surge pricing. So they actually have MORE power than an employee in the same situation: The employee would lose their job, but Uber drivers can just refuse to work.

fucking_tragedy 8y ago
> What profit are they making by doing that? They're shedding expensive employee entitlements and liabilities. > They have the power to not work for Uber. A person's ability to exercise their power is proportional to the their financial security. A hungry person will have to make decisions in desperation to secure their next meal. A person behind on their rent will take whatever opportunity they can to secure a roof over their head.
- ars 8y ago
  > They're shedding expensive employee entitlements and liabilities. If they paid those, they would just pay the person less. It doesn't actually change anything financially for the company. >A person's ability to exercise their power is proportional to the their financial security. A hungry person will have to make decisions in desperation to secure their next meal. A person behind on their rent will take whatever opportunity they can to secure a roof over their head. And? What does any of that have to do with Uber? They offered a job, either the person is better off with it, or they aren't. It's not like there is a monopoly here. If Uber raised their rates there would be less trips taken, and less drivers would have jobs. If the drivers feel they aren't making enough money, they would drive less, or not at all. Then rates would go up (if by no other means then by surge pricing). I've talked to Uber drivers - by far, dwarfing all other issues, their #1 issue is there are not enough customers. If they raised rates there would be even fewer customers - how does that help anyone?