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Gig Economy Business Model Dealt a Blow in California Ruling

posted by martyb on Wednesday May 02 2018, @04:54PM   
from the GIGantic-decision dept.

Fnord666 writes:

In a ruling with potentially sweeping consequences for the so-called gig economy, the California Supreme Court on Monday made it much more difficult for companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees.

The decision could eventually require companies like Uber, many of which are based in California, to follow minimum-wage and overtime laws and to pay workers' compensation and unemployment insurance and payroll taxes, potentially upending their business models.

Industry executives have estimated that classifying drivers and other gig workers as employees tends to cost 20 to 30 percent more than classifying them as contractors. It also brings benefits that can offset these costs, though, like the ability to control schedules and the manner of work.

"It's a massive thing — definitely a game-changer that will force everyone to take a fresh look at the whole issue," said Richard Meneghello, a co-chairman of the gig-economy practice group at the management-side law firm Fisher Phillips.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/business/economy/gig-economy-ruling.html

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Original Submission

• 'The Iron Heel': Jack London on Socialism 'The Iron Heel': Jack London on Socialism (Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 03 2018, @01:34AM (2 children)

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 03 2018, @01:34AM (#674869)

  If you want to get a better understanding of where socialism lay in the spectrum of American politics, almost exactly one hundred years ago, you can do no better than to read Jack London's one and only effort at prognostication - "The Iron Heel".

  I stumbled upon it when I searched Gutenberg.org for "science fiction", seeking the SF shelf, and saw this book amongst the returns.

  The test of a classic, is time, and Jack London's books meet this test admirably.

  His mathematical expose of what to do with the country's trade surplus is excellent, and for that reason, alone, I would propose that every child in the United States be required to read at least a few chapters of the book, if only so that a few hours of in-class discussion might occur, making for better-educated voters in the years to come.

  Mr London also predicted World War I; and, may I say, his description of the Sierra Mills, at the turn of the last century, is not too different from contemporary descriptions of Amazon's shipping department ... or my own experience, as a technical support professional, on call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without compensation - for decades.

  (Thank you very much, United States Congress. May you rot in hell, with the rest of the lawyers.)

  ObURL: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1164/1164-h/1164-h.htm [gutenberg.org]

  ~childo

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• Re:'The Iron Heel': Jack London on Socialism (Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday May 03 2018, @04:22AM

  by khallow (3766) on Thursday May 03 2018, @04:22AM (#674933) Journal

  or my own experience, as a technical support professional, on call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without compensation - for decades.

  Then why did you do it? I only do jobs like that, if I'm getting paid.

  Parent

• Re:'The Iron Heel': Jack London on Socialism (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 03 2018, @10:53AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 03 2018, @10:53AM (#674999)

  Thanks for calling that to my attention, I hadn't seen it before.
  For those who would like a different format, https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1164 [gutenberg.org]

  Parent