A new book about how Uber made its way into Washington, D.C., about a dozen years ago analyzes how the ride-hailing company grew into the multibillion-dollar corporation it is today — and why.
Uber’s business model relies on treating its millions of drivers as independent contractors, an arrangement the company says provides workers with flexibility. That means shifting costs and risks to those workers, many of whom don’t have steady wages, healthcare benefits, paid sick leave and access to other employee protections like unemployment insurance.
Wells added: “I went into this thinking, ‘How can anyone drive for this entity?’ But afterward, I thought, if I had this situation, I would be driving for Uber.” Cities have taken steps to address the issue: In New York, the Taxi and Limousine Commission has an Office of Inclusion and encourages riders to file a complaint when they feel they have been discriminated against. Other cities, including D.C., have similar departments that handle such complaints.