Latest Sharing Economy Headlines

All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Uber’s UK Court Loss Likely to Trigger More Complaints from Gig Workers Across Europe

Feb 22 2021 // Uber Technologies Inc.’s defeat in a UK legal battle over the way it treats its drivers is set to trigger a wave of complaints from workers across the region.Britain’s Supreme Court ruled Friday that Uber must...

UK Court Rules Uber Drivers Should Be Classed as Workers, in Blow to Business Model

Feb 19 2021 // LONDON – A group of Uber drivers are entitled to worker rights such as the minimum wage, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday in a blow to the ride-hailing service that has ramifications for millions of others...

Uber Urges EU to Recognize Gig Business Model as UK Court Is Set to Rule

Feb 17 2021 // Uber on Monday called on EU regulators to recognize the value of independent contracts in job creation as they consider new rules to protect gig economy workers.The company has been criticized for classifying its drivers...

UK Supreme Court to Rule This Week on Workers’ Rights for Uber Drivers

Feb 15 2021 // LONDON — Britain’s Supreme Court will announce a decision on Feb. 19 in a case regarding workers’ rights at taxi app Uber that could have ramifications for millions of others earning a living in the gig...

California Supreme Court Rejects Rideshare Vote Lawsuit

Feb 5 2021 // The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit that sought to overturn a ballot measure that makes app-based ride-hailing and delivery drivers independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job...

Uber Vet Invests $50M in Metromile as Insurer Readies Reverse Merger to Become Public

Feb 2 2021 // Auto insurer Metromile has attracted $50 million in new investment from a former Uber executive even as it has obtained regulatory approval to formalize a reverse merger deal that will make it a publicly-traded...

Buckle Expands Rideshare Auto Insurance Into Tennessee

Feb 1 2021 // Buckle, a tech-enabled financial services company, has expanded its rideshare-only auto insurance into Tennessee. Last year, the company launched the insurance offering that provides rideshare and transportation network...

New York Court: Uber Drivers Are Employees Eligible for Unemployment Insurance

Jan 25 2021 // The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department held at the end of December that Uber drivers can be considered employees eligible for benefits such as unemployment insurance.The finding upheld...

Pardon for Ex-Google Exec Who Took Self-Driving Car Secrets to Uber

Jan 22 2021 // A long-running Silicon Valley soap opera took an unexpected twist on Wednesday after outgoing President Donald Trump pardoned a former Google engineer for stealing self-driving car secrets shortly before joining...

Some Rideshare Drivers Sue Over California Ballot Measure

Jan 14 2021 // Drivers for app-based ride-hailing and delivery services filed a lawsuit Tuesday to overturn a California ballot initiative that makes them independent contractors instead of employees eligible for benefits and job...

Uber Appealing $59M Fine in California Over Sex Assault Data Request

Jan 14 2021 // Uber Technologies Inc. on Wednesday appealed a $59 million fine by a California regulator in a dispute over whether the company should share detailed information on sexual assault and harassment claims reported on its...

Marsh Launches UK & Ireland Sharing Economy & Mobility (SE&M) Industry Group

Jan 6 2021 // Marsh, the insurance broker and risk adviser, has launched a dedicated Sharing Economy & Mobility (SE&M) industry group in the UK & Ireland.Led by Sam Tiltman, the group brings together over 25 sector...

Uber Asks States to Prioritize Delivery, Rideshare Drivers for COVID Vaccine

Dec 10 2020 // Uber Technologies Inc. on Thursday sent letters to the governors of all U.S. states, asking for its ride-hail and food delivery drivers to get early access to COVID-19 vaccines as essential workers.The company also said it...

Pandemic-Stricken Uber Sells Its Robot-Vehicle Division

Dec 9 2020 // Uber is selling off its autonomous vehicles development arm as the ride-hailing company slims down after its revenues were pummeled by the coronavirus pandemic.Self-driving vehicle technology company Aurora will acquire...

Companies Hope to Take California Gig Worker Classification Law Nationwide

Nov 16 2020 // Gig economy companies want to turn California voters’ decision to make ride-service drivers contractors into a model for the nation, as several states consider requiring drivers from Uber, Lyft and rival services be...

Companies Hope to Take California Gig Worker Classification Law Nationwide

Nov 8 2020 // Gig economy companies want to turn California voters’ decision to make ride-service drivers contractors into a model for the nation, as several states consider requiring drivers from Uber, Lyft and rival services be...

California Voters Back Ballot Measure Treating Gig Drivers as Contractors

Nov 8 2020 // Uber, Lyft and other app-based ride-hailing and delivery services spent $200 million in a winning bet to circumvent California lawmakers and the courts to preserve their business model by keeping drivers from becoming...

California Voters Deciding Fate of Gig Economy Workers

Nov 3 2020 // Trend-setting California votes on the future of the gig economy on Tuesday, deciding whether to back a ballot proposal by Uber and its allies that would cement app-based food delivery and ride-hail drivers’ status as...

Lawsuit Alleges Uber Uses ‘Biased’ Rider Ratings to Fire Drivers

Oct 27 2020 // Uber Technologies Inc. was accused in a lawsuit of violating the U.S. Civil Rights Act by firing minority drivers based on how they’re rated by customers.“Uber is aware that passengers are prone to discriminate...

Uber, Lyft Must Reclassify Drivers as Employees, Rules California Appeals Court

Oct 23 2020 // A California appeals court on Thursday unanimously ruled against ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc., saying they must reclassify their drivers in the state as employees.While the ruling does not...