gig economy

A courier delivers goods at night on a street in Beijing in February.

World News

He Tried To Organize Workers In China's Gig Economy. Now He Faces 5 Years In Jail

6:08am April 13, 2021

by Emily Feng

The arrest of food delivery worker Chen Guojiang dealt a blow to nascent efforts to promote couriers' rights as they've gained broader public attention during the coronavirus pandemic.

Queue Listen Now

The lawsuit is the first big test of a new state law that poses a serious threat to the ride-hailing apps' business models.

National

California Sues Uber And Lyft For 'Cheating' Drivers And Taxpayers

6:07pm May 05, 2020

by Shannon Bond

The state accuses the ride-hailing apps of flouting a labor law by classifying drivers as independent contractors instead of employees.

Unemployment Benefits Expanding To Include More Workers

4:40pm March 31, 2020

by Eddie Garcia

Many people have been laid off from work or seen drastic reductions in hours due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means a big uptick in unemployment claims.

Queue Listen Now

Uber and Lyft drivers say they are seeing less demand for rides in big cities where events are being canceled and people are encouraged to work from home.

Economy

Not Employees: Gig Workers Like Uber Drivers Aren't Eligible For Sick Leave

4:27pm March 13, 2020

by Shannon Bond

The outbreak is creating uncertainty for Uber drivers and other gig workers, who face difficult choices about whether to work or stay home and lose their livelihoods.

Queue Listen Now

Teri Smith is one of over 130,000 workers who shop for and deliver groceries for Instacart. Smith, 46, has worked for Instacart in Arlington, Texas, since August 2018.

At The Mercy Of An App: Workers Feel The Instacart Squeeze

6:35pm November 25, 2019

by Alina Selyukh

The grocery-delivery app faces a new wave of discontent. Working for an algorithm means tweaks can upend a livelihood — and being a faster, nicer, more experienced worker doesn't guarantee better pay.

Queue Listen Now

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, speaks at an August 28 rally in Sacramento, Calif., calling for passage of AB5 to limit when companies can label workers as independent contractors.

Economy

California Governor Signs Law Protecting Gig Economy Workers

7:14pm September 18, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

The measure that reclassifies many independent contractors as employees could have national implications for the so-called gig economy.

As the gig economy grows, more people are seeking temporary work spaces, and restaurants and coffee shops are seeking to cater to this need, using tech apps to help them.

Working In While Eating Out: The Evolution of Doing Business While Dining

7:00am August 26, 2019

by Claire Leaden

Though it may seem like the gig economy has ushered in the mobile work style from restaurants and coffee shops, the fact is that working and eating have been intertwined since ancient civilization.

Uber announced this week that it is changing policies and banning riders with low scores.

National

Uber To Start Banning Passengers With Low Ratings

6:04pm May 29, 2019

by Sasha Ingber

"Respect is a two-way street, and so is accountability," a company official announced. Riders will get advice on how to improve their ratings before being deactivated, including being polite.

"I had one day I worked six hours and made $50. It really wasn't worth it. ... But it doesn't happen that often," says Hilary Gordon, who works as a shopper for the grocery delivery app Instacart in a suburb of Sacramento, Calif. "The other day I worked 1

Why Suburban Moms Are Delivering Your Groceries

11:55am May 26, 2019

by Alina Selyukh

After two master's degrees and three children, Hilary Gordon is one of the women who now make up more than half of the contractors at food delivery apps like Instacart. NPR spent a day with her.

Queue Listen Now

Why Hasn't The Gig Economy Killed Traditional Work?

2:41pm March 26, 2019

by Greg Rosalsky

Recent studies suggest we're not witnessing the dawn of a new gig economy. What accounts for the resilience of traditional employment?