> I have several friends that actively choose to be contractors because they prefer the (legally protected) flexibility to decide their own hours, among other t

> I have several friends that actively choose to be contractors because they prefer the (legally protected) flexibility to decide their own hours, among other things. It's a personal decision, and there are upsides and downsides in both directions. What "legal protections" are you talking about? Uber can put out a notification right now that if you don't take 1 ride in the next hour that you are banned from the platform and there's nothing your friends could do about it. A contractor gets to work w/e hours they want because they are their own boss and collect their own contracted work. Uber basically forms a new contract with a driver per-ride. There's no promise of future rides, and Uber has every right to withhold new rides for whatever reason, including that they do not like your schedule.