16
TECHNOLOGY
ISSUE 88 / 2016
UBER GIVES MORE CONTROL TO DRIVERS, BUT IS THAT ENOUGH?
Getting around has never been easier or cheaper, so long as your phone’s hasn’t died. For us riders it’s the best, though
things aren’t so rosy in the driving seat.
The company doesn’t classify any of its drivers as employees
- meaning they lose out on certain rights and benefits.
Instead drivers are referred to as independent contractors,
something it paid $100m for in April after settling legal
actions in California & Massachusetts.
In a bid to calm tempers, Uber is rolling out new schemes
that benefit drivers. They’re designed to give the drivers more
more control over their shifts and routes. The features, trialled
in cities Stateside are now being implemented across the
board. But what’s actually going to change?
Well drivers can now fine riders who take more than two
minutes to get in once they arrive, and those no showers will
get this fine added to the no show fee. How much depends
on your cities per-minute rate.
They can pause requests, meaning a proper break when
working without having to decline requests. Specifying
their route is another big win for the drivers - allowing them
to give a direction of their travel so they will only receive
requests from riders going the same way. It’ll make a big
difference at the end of a shift when all they want is their bed.
Those are just some of the new features, but are they
enough to keep drivers happy? Funny how they come now after serious questions over the company’s treatment of its
drivers and an expense legal battle, with another just waiting
round the corner.