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Gig work is a new way to work. Just because Uber might go away it does not mean that gig work will disappear, other business models will continue it. I suspect
by WheelsAtLarge 5y ago
Gig work is a new way to work. Just because Uber might go away it does not mean that gig work will disappear, other business models will continue it. I suspect someone will make it work.
Look at free shipping, at first, it looks like a money pit that could never be part of a profitable business. But Amazon Prime is not only making it work but it powers the company's earnings. You just never know.
- toomuchtodo 5y agoGig work exists until regulation catches up. It’s worker classification fraud masquerading as innovation (imho), in typical Silicon Valley fashion. It’s taking longer than it took Homejoy to fail (~5 years), but someone will close the capital spigot eventually. What is the terminal or discounted cash flow value of perpetual double digit negative margins?
- cortesoft 5y agoGig work doesn't HAVE to be classification fraud; a service could actually treat the gig workers as contractors in the correct legal way... the current services don't, but it isn't necessarily fundamental to the business model.
- toomuchtodo 5y agoAgreed, but that is not what is on offer at the moment. Services want all of the control without any of the obligation or liabilities.
- sudosysgen 5y agoWhat would Uber look like if the drivers had the latitude of a contractor? Would it still be as viable business-wise?
- cortesoft 5y agoProbably, but not as a billion dollar unicorn.
- bonzini 5y agoGig work is a new work to exploit people, more precisely. It's hardly feasible to make a decent living out of being an Uber driver.
- GaryTang 5y agoThe flexibility is more valuable