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The stock prices of Uber, Lyft and DoorDash slid on Tuesday after the Department of Labor announced proposed changes to how workers should be classified. The prospective guidance is intended to “combat employee misclassification,” the federal agency said in a statement.
Soon after, Uber’s share price dropped by more than 10% to $24.61, while Lyft’s tanked more than 12% to $11.22 and DoorDash’s fell more than 5% to $44.98 at the time of writing.
The change could make it easier for contractors to gain full employment status if they are “economically dependent” on a company. However, the scope of the rule would be limited to areas such as minimum wage enforcement.
Uber, Lyft and DoorDash depend extensively upon gig workers, who haul people and meals around on their behalf but do not receive many hard-won benefits of employment — such as employer contributions towards their Social Security and Medicare taxes. Despite pressure from labor organizers and some lawmakers, some tech firms have fought to continue classifying their workers as independent contractors, arguing the status benefits their businesses, other local businesses and workers themselves.
Attempts to alter gig worker classification in the U.S. include a recently rejected ballot measure in Massachusetts, which could have explicitly defined such workers as independent contractors.
In California, an effort to secure benefits for gig workers — AB-5 — passed in 2019. A year later, app-based gig workers in California were excluded from the law via Proposition 22, which itself was deemed unconstitutional in the state in 2021. However, app-based gig companies have appealed that ruling and continue to operate in California under the guidance of Prop 22. (Every day is a winding road.)
In a statement, Lyft said the new Labor Department proposal had “no immediate or direct impact on the Lyft business at this time.” The firm reiterated its argument that classifying gig workers as employees could deny those workers independence and flexibility. DoorDash published a similar statement on its blog today.
Uber also cited flexibility in an email to TechCrunch, and said the “proposed rule takes a measured approach, essentially returning us to the Obama era, during which our industry grew exponentially.”
In stark contrast to these statements, groups such as Gig Workers Rising have long argued that independent classification denies gig workers “basic worker protections and rights,” such as unionization, living wages, paid time off and other benefits.
While ride-hail and meal-delivery companies argue that worker classification changes could threaten their business models, these firms are not profitable. Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have each posted hefty net losses under the status quo.
“The Department of Labor remains committed to addressing the issue of misclassification,” said Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. “Misclassification deprives workers of their federal labor protections, including their right to be paid their full, legally earned wages.”
The Labor Department’s proposal is subject to a public comment period, which runs from from October 13 to November 28.
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