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I always find these discussions around contractor or employee rather lacking in context of other businesses that have operated similarly (i.e. using contractors
by narrowrail 11y ago
I always find these discussions around contractor or employee rather lacking in context of other businesses that have operated similarly (i.e. using contractors) for decades. The obvious example to me is Landstar Systems [0], which uses the term owner operator and emphasizes the fact that drivers do not operate on 'forced dispatch.' Of course, they usually neglect to mention that Landstar handles the insurance for their owner operators (the company self-insures), and the drivers can't drive for any other company on that insurance policy. So, in effect, these drivers don't work for any other freight provider.
[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landstar_System https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landstar_System
- pbreit 11y agoI think people are mostly hoping that Uber gets nailed somehow.
- incongruity 11y agoPerhaps the fact that Landstar is B2B vs. most/all of these startups in the spotlight are primarily B2C has something to do with it? We're more mindful of it because we're more exposed to it?
- shawn-butler 11y agoIRS guidance on worker classification in the limousine industry: [pdf] http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/limo.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/limo.pdf I think the Ninth Circuit laid the smack down on FedEx for them classifying their drivers as contractors in a decision last year. Classifying people and their labor gets complex.