Discussion Post
Employee v. Independent Contractor Classification is a major issue today with the gig economy workforce. Recently, California passed a law classifying most gig economy workers as employees instead of independent contractors much to the dismay of the app firms. Provide your responses to the following this in context-
• What test does California apply to determine worker status now?
Read the following articles:
• "California narrative casts a pall over East Coast efforts to elevate gig economy workers" By DANA RUBINSTEIN, KATHERINE LANDERGAN and ANNA GRONEWOLD.
• "Analysis on Impacts of Driver Reclassification" By Alison Stein.
• "Gig Economy Feels Bite of California Law in Uber, Lyft Loss (1)" by Erin Mulvaney
Provide (outside sources STRONGLY encouraged, but pay attention to potential bias of sources!):
• Your reasoned opinion (legal argumentation) on whether Uber/Lyft's LEGAL positions on classifying their drivers as independent contractors makes sense under FEDERAL LAW v. CALIFORNIA NEW LAW.
• Your reasoned thoughts (not legal but general argumentation...i.e. still provide evidence to support your positions) on whether California's new law is the right business/economic move to make (examine arguments on both sides....and pick a side....do not give me a straw man), particularly given new implications of Covid on the labor force.
• How do you think the new DOL Regulations taking effect March 8th, 2021 will impact all of this?
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.