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> I think it's less clear than one would expect. In WA State (https://esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/independent-contractors https://esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/indep

> I think it's less clear than one would expect. In WA State (https://esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/independent-contractors https://esd.wa.gov/employer-taxes/independent-contractors), there is a three part test. If you force someone to mow your lawn with specific equipment, and at a certain time, they would be en employee; they are not free from control.

tqi 6y ago
Hm is there a difference between hiring a person and telling them to mow my lawn at 2pm vs choosing a person who is only available at 2pm?
- ev1 6y ago
  Neither of these really compare to the part where "If you don't accept all jobs assigned to you, we will no longer assign jobs to you and remove you from the platform entirely, also we are nearly the entire platform - you will find <1% of the jobs you previously could anywhere else"
synsynack 6y ago
You are not forcing them. Say you post a gig to craiglist, I need someone to mow my lawn, with this law mower, at this time. Those are the details of the gig offer, take it or leave it, and complete it in any way that meets the requirements of the gig
- mike00632 6y ago
  Except Craigslist doesn't take the pay from the gigs and then give a wage to those performing the gigs. Actually, Uber/Lyft/etc would be way less controversial if they operated similarly to Craigslist. When I order an Uber I can never get a ride from a 1980 Ford truck or a snowmobile because those vehicles don't meet Uber's standards and I'm actually scheduling a gig with a representative of Uber who adheres to Uber's standards and acts in line with Uber's policies and takes pay from Uber that is disconnected from what I pay them. There is virtually nothing "independent" about the driver except they independently chose to work for Uber. Yet the driver still bears the costs of equipment maintenance and liability, which happens to be the exact costs that business newbies overlook the most. It's exploitative.
synsynack 6y ago
You are not forcing them if it's mentioned in the gig description before the offer is taken: I need someone to mow my lawn, with this lawn mower, at this time. Those are the details of the gig offer, take it or leave it, and complete it in anyway that meets the requirements of the gig. No different then I need someone to walk my dog, with this leash collar, at this time, and use this biodegradable bag. Or should the dog walker bring his own leash...
- brbsix 6y ago
  Except where mandated by state law, gig workers do not receive the gig description until after it is accepted. There is no transparency about details such as price or duration when they must make the decision to take it or leave it. Failure to accept a gig will result in penalization that significantly reduces your ability to receive more offers in the future.

tqi 6y ago

Hm is there a difference between hiring a person and telling them to mow my lawn at 2pm vs choosing a person who is only available at 2pm?

ev1 6y ago
Neither of these really compare to the part where "If you don't accept all jobs assigned to you, we will no longer assign jobs to you and remove you from the platform entirely, also we are nearly the entire platform - you will find <1% of the jobs you previously could anywhere else"

synsynack 6y ago

You are not forcing them. Say you post a gig to craiglist, I need someone to mow my lawn, with this law mower, at this time. Those are the details of the gig offer, take it or leave it, and complete it in any way that meets the requirements of the gig

mike00632 6y ago
Except Craigslist doesn't take the pay from the gigs and then give a wage to those performing the gigs. Actually, Uber/Lyft/etc would be way less controversial if they operated similarly to Craigslist. When I order an Uber I can never get a ride from a 1980 Ford truck or a snowmobile because those vehicles don't meet Uber's standards and I'm actually scheduling a gig with a representative of Uber who adheres to Uber's standards and acts in line with Uber's policies and takes pay from Uber that is disconnected from what I pay them. There is virtually nothing "independent" about the driver except they independently chose to work for Uber. Yet the driver still bears the costs of equipment maintenance and liability, which happens to be the exact costs that business newbies overlook the most. It's exploitative.

synsynack 6y ago

You are not forcing them if it's mentioned in the gig description before the offer is taken: I need someone to mow my lawn, with this lawn mower, at this time. Those are the details of the gig offer, take it or leave it, and complete it in anyway that meets the requirements of the gig. No different then I need someone to walk my dog, with this leash collar, at this time, and use this biodegradable bag. Or should the dog walker bring his own leash...

brbsix 6y ago
Except where mandated by state law, gig workers do not receive the gig description until after it is accepted. There is no transparency about details such as price or duration when they must make the decision to take it or leave it. Failure to accept a gig will result in penalization that significantly reduces your ability to receive more offers in the future.