If you’ve ordered takeout during the pandemic, chances are you’ve tapped into the gig economy. As this industry has exploded, one city is stepping up to ensure the rights of delivery workers are preserved and protected.
The New York City Council recently passed a six-bill legislative package focused on providing protections to the city's food
Read more:
But while the NYC bill is well-intentioned, it faces an uphill battle and could actually
“I think legislators have been eager to find solutions, which is positive,” he says. “But I think they also fail to understand some of the nuances of the gig economy, and so often the solutions are a little bit like square hole, round peg — it doesn't perfectly fit.”
Under the new legislations, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will be tasked with conducting a study to determine how much delivery workers should be paid for their work. It would also prohibit food delivery services from charging their workers fees related to customer payment methods, and would require that food delivery workers be paid at least weekly.
Read more:
However, too many restrictions and mandates on payment processes could work against delivery workers, Spoke says. If a restaurant is forced to shoulder these costs, they may raise prices and cut staff. Additionally, major delivery platforms might want to leave the New York market, which would limit the amount of services a gig worker can use and affect the growth of their future wages.
“If there is less opportunity for gig workers, that's not a positive thing,” Spoke says. “It's about making sure that whatever laws we do pass ensures that that flexibility is front and center.”
But despite the growing pains, legal action in favor of the gig worker does have positive impacts, especially when it comes to their comfort. One of the proposed bills demands workers get access to the restrooms in any establishment listed under the delivery service app while on the job — a fundamental right they’ve been championing for years.
Read more:
Another would allow delivery workers to specify their “maximum distance per trip” and give them the option to refuse trips “over bridges or tunnels,” according to the council. Additionally, the food delivery provider would be required to disclose the address and estimated time and distance to the food delivery worker before the worker accepts the trip.
With
“We're really trying to figure out a long-term balance,” Spoke says. “I do hope that we see the government showing interest, I just hope that they'll show an interest in finding a balanced outcome that favors worker flexibility first and foremost, but also allows businesses to operate in this industry profitability.”