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I know I’ll probably take heat for this, but I really don’t understand this idea of Uber “exploiting” drivers. Being an Uber driver isn’t like other jobs where

I know I’ll probably take heat for this, but I really don’t understand this idea of Uber “exploiting” drivers. Being an Uber driver isn’t like other jobs where you have set hours to work, bad working conditions, manipulative managers, etc... No one is keeping you from getting another job and doing Uber on weekends, or doing Uber never. I can’t think of another job where you are more free to do what you want and make your situation better. Seems pretty straight forward to me, but I know many people disagree. What exactly is Uber doing to exploit drivers?

bobthepanda 8y ago
The entire thing is basically taking advantage of less financially literate people; after taking into account taxes and faster depreciation, you’re really not making much money. Of course, the latter takes a while to be visible since most people don’t really look at the value of their car on a day to day basis, and the former is only apparent when tax day comes around.
beart 8y ago
I don't know much about Uber in particular, but in general, I don't think you should claim a company is not exploiting employees based on the assumption that those employees don't have to work there. If Uber puts a taxi company out of business, those employees might be forced to work for Uber under worse conditions, for example. The worse off your situation is, the more difficult it is to do something about it. I'm reminded of this story https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/nyregion/livery-driver-taxi-uber.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/nyregion/livery-driver-ta...
netsharc 8y ago
I'll preface this with: In my understanding... Basically, Uber and other "gig economy jobs" can only exist because of the shit economic conditions of the last however many years. They are even worse than McJobs because you're not even employed. Terrible regulations and corporate lobbying has meant wages have been terrible for a lot of decades, and people need 2, 3 jobs to survive. And in this environment Uber has arrived, with a "It's better than nothing" job (although their ads promise a lot more than that, obviously). But the business environment is the environment. After writing the above paragraph, I realized it seems like the problem is that Uber promised their drivers good money, but the reality is much different, the money is not enough to make a living, which is probably why their drivers are pissed off and feel exploited. (If Job A (Uber) promised you say $1000/week and job B promises you $800/week, you'd take job A. But if it turns out job A only earns you $600 plus excuses, you'd be pissed off because you would've been better off taking job B in the first place). And add to that the psychological tricks: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/02/technology/uber-drivers-psychological-tricks.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/02/technology/ub...
Balgair 8y ago
Though it seems to have been phased out as of now, Uber exploited some drivers via 'Uber Financing'. "58-year-old Richard Brunelle was struggling to cover the $1,000 monthly payment for his Kia Optima. The loan’s interest rate? An astonishing 22.75% APR."[0] Though that particular program had other firms exploiting Richard via usury, Uber was front and center in that deal and set the rates at which Richard could make that money back. That bears repeating, Uber lead Richard down a path they knew was bad for him but was good for Uber. That is the literal definition of exploitation[1]. Normally, you'd give companies the benefit of the doubt with such things, wait for more data to come in, etc. But Uber has such a long history of outright illegal programs, shady practices, and callous abuse that it would be foolish to give them any benefit of the doubt now. [0] https://www.marketplace.org/2015/05/13/tech/uber-drivers-struggle-pay-subprime-auto-loans https://www.marketplace.org/2015/05/13/tech/uber-drivers-str... [1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploitation https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploitation
conanbatt 8y ago
The people that say Uber exploits drivers are the ones that have 6 figure salaries and free snacks and live mostly unaware of how terrible working conditions are for the lower echelons and how sweet a deal it is to make money driving around.

bobthepanda 8y ago

The entire thing is basically taking advantage of less financially literate people; after taking into account taxes and faster depreciation, you’re really not making much money. Of course, the latter takes a while to be visible since most people don’t really look at the value of their car on a day to day basis, and the former is only apparent when tax day comes around.

beart 8y ago

I don't know much about Uber in particular, but in general, I don't think you should claim a company is not exploiting employees based on the assumption that those employees don't have to work there. If Uber puts a taxi company out of business, those employees might be forced to work for Uber under worse conditions, for example. The worse off your situation is, the more difficult it is to do something about it. I'm reminded of this story https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/nyregion/livery-driver-taxi-uber.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/nyregion/livery-driver-ta...

netsharc 8y ago

I'll preface this with: In my understanding... Basically, Uber and other "gig economy jobs" can only exist because of the shit economic conditions of the last however many years. They are even worse than McJobs because you're not even employed. Terrible regulations and corporate lobbying has meant wages have been terrible for a lot of decades, and people need 2, 3 jobs to survive. And in this environment Uber has arrived, with a "It's better than nothing" job (although their ads promise a lot more than that, obviously). But the business environment is the environment. After writing the above paragraph, I realized it seems like the problem is that Uber promised their drivers good money, but the reality is much different, the money is not enough to make a living, which is probably why their drivers are pissed off and feel exploited. (If Job A (Uber) promised you say $1000/week and job B promises you $800/week, you'd take job A. But if it turns out job A only earns you $600 plus excuses, you'd be pissed off because you would've been better off taking job B in the first place). And add to that the psychological tricks: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/02/technology/uber-drivers-psychological-tricks.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/02/technology/ub...

Balgair 8y ago

Though it seems to have been phased out as of now, Uber exploited some drivers via 'Uber Financing'. "58-year-old Richard Brunelle was struggling to cover the $1,000 monthly payment for his Kia Optima. The loan’s interest rate? An astonishing 22.75% APR."[0] Though that particular program had other firms exploiting Richard via usury, Uber was front and center in that deal and set the rates at which Richard could make that money back. That bears repeating, Uber lead Richard down a path they knew was bad for him but was good for Uber. That is the literal definition of exploitation[1]. Normally, you'd give companies the benefit of the doubt with such things, wait for more data to come in, etc. But Uber has such a long history of outright illegal programs, shady practices, and callous abuse that it would be foolish to give them any benefit of the doubt now. [0] https://www.marketplace.org/2015/05/13/tech/uber-drivers-struggle-pay-subprime-auto-loans https://www.marketplace.org/2015/05/13/tech/uber-drivers-str... [1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploitation https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/exploitation

conanbatt 8y ago

The people that say Uber exploits drivers are the ones that have 6 figure salaries and free snacks and live mostly unaware of how terrible working conditions are for the lower echelons and how sweet a deal it is to make money driving around.