The Gig Economy

[GMDino]

(05-10-2019, 09:51 AM)Au165 Wrote: In this case they are being treated exactly as they were told they would be treated when they signed up. There were no promises of being employees. They in their minds have turned their business agreement into something they were never told it was. They took it to court and the courts agreed it never constituted employment. If they don't like the business model they signed up to be a part of then yes, they should move on.

This idea that businesses should change their whole structure to fit workers preferred employment method makes no sense. They are what they agreed to be and if they don't want to be it then they should leave. That is not some evil concept that is free choice and we all have it. If I was hired as a commissioned salesman and decided one day I don't want to be commissioned anymore I just want a salary, should the entire business change it's model and pay me a salary just because I want it to? How should I proceed?

The funny thing is if they really want to drive we are DESPERATELY in need of truck drivers in this country, so much so that companies will pay the total cost of getting licensed yet no one wants to do it. I believe the reason no one wants to do it is because the hours are long and the work is tedious but it pays a really good living wage. 

If they signed a contract then they are indeed bound to those terms.

I was more referring to the general labor than this specific case.

Of course if years after signing the contract they are still being paid the same while the company is making billions of dollars maybe they have a case that their work is contributing to the bottom line and perhaps a few crumbs could fall (trickle?)their way to keep them doing that?  

I don't even have a contract.  My job duties are not defined...only my pay.  I am fortunate to work at a place that (over time) learned to value my worth.  Others are not so lucky.

And currently "business" has swung the pendulum to "screw the employee, we'll find another just like you" as evidenced by payrolls not rising at a rate that would match up with the incredibly low unemployment.  (Many people are working two jobs too.)

But I agree about the truck drivers too.  And even with that many places are simply not paying enough based on the need.  A lot of them promise a good rate but make the work such that it doesn't work out that way.  We're looking for drivers all the time...but based on the pay schedule vs the hours and travel they can't attract good candidates.  Same with our shop.