The growth of drivers working for app-based platforms who are treated as “independent contractors” is characterized by the companies having no federal responsibility to pay minimum wage, protect workers against sexual harassment, or offer workers paid leave or health care benefits. Excluded from the National Labor Relations Act, independent contractors like gig workers also lack the ability to form unions or access workers’ compensation.
Scholars have begun to analyze and raise questions about employment relations in the gig economy. This study contributes to this discussion by broadening the scope of research to analyze workers’ job quality on several measures, including their earnings, benefits, expenses, health and safety outcomes, experiences with harassment and discrimination, and employment status preferences.
Results from a November 2021 through March 2022 survey of 502 drivers reveal the working conditions of app-based drivers in the Chicago metro area. Full report here.