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Proponents of on-demand startups argue the Craigslist side of the analogy. In their view, these workers do have more independent agency than a typical employee,

Proponents of on-demand startups argue the Craigslist side of the analogy. In their view, these workers do have more independent agency than a typical employee, and therefore are properly classified as contractors. After all, Uber drivers and Homejoy cleaners aren’t required to work a certain number of hours per week, and they set their own schedules, even though some companies try to steer them to busy times by incentivizing them with “surge pricing.” I have been an employee without being required to work a set amount of hours per week, is called a zero hours contract and didn't make me any less of an employee, it just meant it was really difficult to plan anything.

SeanDav 12y ago
Zero hours contracts are just another method that companies use to avoid paying employee benefits. This is precisely the type of behaviour that is being targeted by this lawyer. You have the responsibilities of being an employee but the company does not have a corresponding duty to you as an employer.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  I had a funny conversation when I left after they repeatedly failed to provide working equipment while still wanting the job done. I told them I wouldn't be coming back and they told me that my contract required me to give notice and that I would have to turn up to work for two more weeks on whichever shifts they wanted. I pointed out that the contract also stated that I had zero hours contracted and that shifts had to be agreed on a week by week basis, so if they really wanted I could give them 2 weeks notice but for that 2 weeks I would not be agreeing to do any more than the hours they had written on the contract. I also asked if they could go and count them for me.
joopxiv 12y ago
I've had zero hours contracts as well. My working hours were still scheduled in. All it did for me was when I was sick for a few weeks, they just stopped scheduling me in so I would receive sick pay. Uber drives can at any given point in time get in their car, log in and start accepting rides.
antihero 12y ago
Thing is, the difference between this and zero-hours contracts is that with zero-hours, it tends to be the employer setting the hours, whereas with Uber, the driver sets their own hours. If you wanted to work a standard 9-6, you could. If you wanted to work longer, then you get paid for that too (unless there are zero passengers). All of the Uber drivers I've talked too seemed really happy about it as it gave them the flexibility to do what they wanted.

SeanDav 12y ago

Zero hours contracts are just another method that companies use to avoid paying employee benefits. This is precisely the type of behaviour that is being targeted by this lawyer. You have the responsibilities of being an employee but the company does not have a corresponding duty to you as an employer.

lotsofmangos 12y ago
I had a funny conversation when I left after they repeatedly failed to provide working equipment while still wanting the job done. I told them I wouldn't be coming back and they told me that my contract required me to give notice and that I would have to turn up to work for two more weeks on whichever shifts they wanted. I pointed out that the contract also stated that I had zero hours contracted and that shifts had to be agreed on a week by week basis, so if they really wanted I could give them 2 weeks notice but for that 2 weeks I would not be agreeing to do any more than the hours they had written on the contract. I also asked if they could go and count them for me.

joopxiv 12y ago

I've had zero hours contracts as well. My working hours were still scheduled in. All it did for me was when I was sick for a few weeks, they just stopped scheduling me in so I would receive sick pay. Uber drives can at any given point in time get in their car, log in and start accepting rides.

antihero 12y ago

Thing is, the difference between this and zero-hours contracts is that with zero-hours, it tends to be the employer setting the hours, whereas with Uber, the driver sets their own hours. If you wanted to work a standard 9-6, you could. If you wanted to work longer, then you get paid for that too (unless there are zero passengers). All of the Uber drivers I've talked too seemed really happy about it as it gave them the flexibility to do what they wanted.