Are gig workers truly independent contractors? Why this issue will continue to evolve

Published Updated 3 Min Read

You see one hand on a steering wheel and another hand holding a phone that says "Uber" on it.
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While gig workers are classified as independent contractors, state courts and workers are still debating whether that’s accurate, or if it leaves app-based drivers and delivery workers far too unprotected. 

The classification seems unlikely to change anytime soon, with the California State Supreme Court ruling that the classification of gig workers as independent contractors under Proposition 22 was constitutional, affirming the status quo. Notably, the case was brought forward by a group of app-based drivers arguing that Prop 22 limited California’s ability to enact laws that would give them the right to organize and access the state’s workers’ compensation program. 

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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