Gig Employee Legislation Got You Worried? Here’s How You Can Maintain Autonomy In Your Ridesharing Business

Looking back at your days in school, you’ll definitely remember being asked, “where do you see yourself five or ten years from now?”

There’s no doubt that you thought of that question in terms of personal and professional expectations: married, not married, working for a Fortune 500 company, or being CEO of your own company. Whatever the dream, each of us had our own idea of what our future would look like.

From a professional point of view, not everyone wants to be an employee. Some of us want to be our own bosses, fix our own schedules, and work as much as we’re comfortable.

Many studies have shown that people who work for themselves are much happier while at work — which results in higher productivity.

For those people that offer ridesharing services, the ability to have autonomy over their workday, schedule, and payment is a benefit that’s treasured, especially if they’re operating as a gig worker.

Legislation that proposes ridesharing contract workers be made into employees will potentially see larger ridesharing companies profiting from millions of dollars in additional revenue and gig workers drawing the short straw — a tough blow to holiday earning projections.

For gig workers who wish to work independently, the best option is to conduct their business from a platform that gives them full control of their business operation. As an independent rideshare operator who uses an online platform, you should have the right to:

• Market yourself to potential customers

Potential customers must know about your business before they decide to support it. As a service provider, the platform you use must allow you to advertise and market your service to your advantage — anything less would be a disservice to you.

• Offer bespoke services

No two customers are alike and would have different rideshare needs. You should be able to offer a service that addresses your customer’s needs but benefits you at the same time.

You are more likely to gain more income from a customized service than a standard one-size-fits-all operation.

• Negotiate prices without third party interference

Employees of ridesharing companies have to abide by the rules of those companies and be paid what the company feels they should be. On a rideshare platform, you can negotiate the price directly with the customer.

Legislation that exempts rideshare companies in California from making contract workers employees has recently been passed. This is great news for California and gig workers there.

However, legislation contrary to this exemption is making its way across the United States and will eventually become a global phenomenon. As a rideshare gig worker, choosing to operate from a platform that will allow you to work for yourself regardless of the outcome of the legislation is your best option for maintaining autonomy.