Uber Considers Compensating Drivers Affected by Coronavirus

By Preetika Rana

Uber Technologies Inc. said it is considering compensating drivers affected by coronavirus as pressure mounts on companies to provide broader employment benefits to gig workers.

An Uber spokeswoman said Friday the ride-sharing giant "is exploring compensation for drivers who have been quarantined or diagnosed with coronavirus, whether independently, through a fund, or in partnership with peer companies." Uber wouldn't say whether any of its drivers have been quarantined or diagnosed with the virus, but said infections hadn't spread between drivers or riders "to the best of our knowledge."

Earlier Friday, Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.) wrote to the chief executives of several U.S. tech companies, including Uber, calling on them to commit "that economic uncertainty will not be deterrents to their workers following public health guidance."

California, which accounts for 9% of Uber's bookings, last year passed a law aimed at reclassifying the company's drivers as employees, eligible for benefits such as health insurance, sick days and minimum wage. Uber has maintained it doesn't need to reclassify drivers.

Uber has joined hands with other companies whose operations rely on gig workers and raised over $110 million for a ballot initiative this year asking that state voters exempt them from the statute. The ballot measure promises other protections to gig workers that currently don't exist, such as health-care subsidies for drivers who work 15 hours or more a week.

Write to Preetika Rana at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 06, 2020 19:56 ET (00:56 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.