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Add to this that DoorDash, Uber, etc have given authority over wages and performance evaluations directly to the customers. (Through the practice of delegating

Add to this that DoorDash, Uber, etc have given authority over wages and performance evaluations directly to the customers. (Through the practice of delegating tips and ratings to the end user.) There's a clear imbalance of power there -- it costs the customer nothing to not tip or to leave a one star review. But those things could absolutely impact someone's earning potential as a worker. Consider how many people seemingly enjoy being petty tyrants when given the opportunity, and the story gets worse and worse for the worker. I always recommend that people always give five stars and a generous tip (until we outlaw typing). It's not my job to narc on your workers, Uber.

Retric 6y ago
Uber essentially insisting you give everyone 5 stars just makes the railings meaningless. It’s much better for customers to defect from that game. It’s the same issue with tipping. The larger the standard tip the more power you give to people that defect and tip nothing. Essentially, high tips simply subsidize freeloaders, it’s much better for society to avoid restaurants or services that use tips.
bee_rider 6y ago
How do these services actually work? Since it is apparently just a system to connect customers, deliverers, and sellers with each-other, I assume (not really, but...) the deliverers can set their minimum pay? If not, that would be an interesting experiment.
- Pfhreak 6y ago
  Deliverers cannot set their pay. It's a take it or leave it model where DoorDash basically says, "we have a delivery we will pay x".
redis_mlc 6y ago
> But those things could absolutely impact someone's earning potential as a worker. There was an eye-opening article in a newspaper on a US chain like Chili's or Olive Garden(?) waiters being rated by diners with a table device. A waiter could bring out a meal from the kitchen, and if it was "cold" or "not right", that waiter would get a 1 rating, which would result in loss of hours (from 30 or 40 hours down to 20), and eventually dismissal, by company policy. Pretty horrible outcome since the kitchen is responsible for that.

Retric 6y ago

Uber essentially insisting you give everyone 5 stars just makes the railings meaningless. It’s much better for customers to defect from that game. It’s the same issue with tipping. The larger the standard tip the more power you give to people that defect and tip nothing. Essentially, high tips simply subsidize freeloaders, it’s much better for society to avoid restaurants or services that use tips.

bee_rider 6y ago

How do these services actually work? Since it is apparently just a system to connect customers, deliverers, and sellers with each-other, I assume (not really, but...) the deliverers can set their minimum pay? If not, that would be an interesting experiment.

Pfhreak 6y ago
Deliverers cannot set their pay. It's a take it or leave it model where DoorDash basically says, "we have a delivery we will pay x".

redis_mlc 6y ago

> But those things could absolutely impact someone's earning potential as a worker. There was an eye-opening article in a newspaper on a US chain like Chili's or Olive Garden(?) waiters being rated by diners with a table device. A waiter could bring out a meal from the kitchen, and if it was "cold" or "not right", that waiter would get a 1 rating, which would result in loss of hours (from 30 or 40 hours down to 20), and eventually dismissal, by company policy. Pretty horrible outcome since the kitchen is responsible for that.