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Uber CEO Urges 'Portable Benefits' for Gig Economy Workers (thehill.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the social-insecurity dept.

An anonymous reader quotes The Hill: Uber's chief executive is calling for Washington state to develop a "portable benefits system" to give contract workers in the so-called gig economy access to health care and retirement planning accounts. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi signed onto a letter with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 775 President David Rolf and Seattle investor and workers rights advocate Nick Hanauer urging the state to take action.

Uber does not hire drivers as actual employees meaning the company does not offer them benefits beyond compensation. Khosrowshahi said having the state change laws so that contract workers can carry benefits between jobs would be preferable to Uber hiring them as full employees.

6 of 137 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Like Obama Care by twistedcubic · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is an indication of Obamacare's shortcomings. We should have Medicare for all, and end this nonsense now.

  2. Re:Why is it a gig economy by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You do know that Uber is actually losing these case, because, as shocking as it may be, most taxation authorities have a set of tests to determine whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor.

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  3. Portable benefits my ass by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is about the worst thing to come out of Uber yet. Rather than support a single payer system (that they're afraid they might have to chip in for) they want 'portable' benefits. e.g. completely paid for by the (underpaid) drivers. The best part is this makes it sound like he's doing it for the little guy when all he's really doing is trying to divert attention away from the fact that his company broke one of the fundamental social contracts in America (to wit: "Work for us and we'll take care of your healthcare).

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  4. Re:Outsourcing Benefits by quonset · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Create a company that provides benefits with several standard packages. Companies could buy into a package for their employees.

    It already exists. It's called insurance. Uber simply doesn't want to pay for it for its employees. It wants the taxpayers to pay for it.

  5. Its call Universal Health Care. by pjv936 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most nations have it except for the USA.

  6. befor ACA the ER was the only place for some by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    befor ACA the ER was the only place for some both poor and others who where sick that they went to the only place that takes them and gives medical care with out checking if you can pay.