Uber Drivers Have Rights on Wages and Time Off, UK Panel Rules (apnews.com)

Uber suffered a blow on Friday to its operations in its biggest market outside the United States when a British panel ruled in London rejected the company's argument that its drivers were self employed. The decision, which affirmed a ruling made last year, means that Uber will have to ensure its drivers in Britain are paid a minimum wage and entitled to time off, casting doubt on a common hiring model in the so-called gig economy that relies on workers who do not have a formal contract as permanent employees. From a report: Judge Jennifer Eady rejected Uber's argument that the men were independent contractors, because the drivers had no opportunity to make their own agreements with passengers and the company required them to accept 80 percent of trip requests when they were on duty. The tribunal, Eady wrote in her decision, found "the drivers were integrated into the Uber business of providing transportation services." The ride-hailing service said it has never required drivers in the U.K. to accept 80 percent of the trips offered to them and that drivers make well above the minimum wage. Employment lawyers expect the case to be heard by higher courts as early as next year.

Comments

Re:Are they stupid or something?

[beelsebob]

Paid time off is legally mandated for all employed people in the UK.

Re:firemen are paid to wait for the call so why no

[jonsmirl]

Because firemen are required to wait and Uber drivers aren't.

Driver's don't get the opportunity to....

[mark-t]

... negotiate with passengers because the passengers are not who is contracting the drivers in the first place. The passengers are Uber's clients, not the driver's.

Uber is the one contracting the drivers. The drivers are using their own equipment, at their own cost, and setting their own work schedule.

The drivers no more get to negotiate prices with their passengers than an independent contractor that's hired by a construction firm gets to negotiate their prices with the construction firm's clients.

Re:firemen are paid to wait for the call so why no

[jonsmirl]

Ridiculous. Uber did not exist ten years ago. Plus 95% of the population have never used them.

Re:Are they stupid or something?

[ShanghaiBill]

It's hilarious that the US still calls itself "the land of the free"

Mandatory paid time off may be a good idea, but it is not "freedom". It is a restriction on liberty for (arguably) a greater social good.

"Freedom" would leave it up to individuals whether they want vacation, or would prefer shorter daily hours or higher pay. Because that is the tradeoff. The paid vacation is not going to be "free".