Ride-hailing startup Uber Technologies Inc recently said that it will offer compensation to drivers and delivery people diagnosed with the coronavirus or placed in quarantine for up to 14 days.
In an official statement, the company said that it has already started compensating drivers in some markets and is planning to implement the same benefits for drivers and delivery people worldwide.
Earlier this month Bloomberg had reported Uber’s move to pay drivers exposed to the coronavirus in the United States and said it had already compensated five quarantined but ultimately non-infected drivers in Britain and Mexico.
“This has already begun in some markets, and we are working to implement mechanisms to do this worldwide,” an Uber spokesman told AFP in a statement.
“We believe this is the right thing to do,” said Andrew Macdonald, the senior vice president of rides and platform.
Uber has repeatedly said that its drivers are properly classified as contractors. By classifying contractors as employees, technology companies like Uber, DoorDash and Postmates Inc would be subject to labor laws that require higher pay and other benefits, such as medical insurance.
Recently, a court in France had ruled that drivers working for Uber are its employees and labor laws would be applicable for them too.
HrNxt.com Newsdesk has researchers and writers with an excellent domain knowledge about the talent ecosystem, and the business environment. The team keeps a tab on the latest happenings in the ecosystem to bring most relevant news and insights for our readers. You can connect with our newsdesk at newsdesk@hrnxt.com.