Personal Injury Firm
COVID-19 has transformed the daily lives of people throughout the country and the world as people are staying indoors and minimizing contact with one another. The pandemic has caused people to skip getting rides to get from one place to another and switch to online shopping and minimal contact delivery options instead. Uber and Lyft rideshare drivers whose profession is dependent on the demand for rides from people looking to get from one place to another are now making the switch from delivering people from one destination to the next, to delivering food, packages, and groceries.
Due to the combination fear of coronavirus contamination, stay at home orders, and the shutdown of dine-in services, people are inclined to place food delivery and grocery delivery services. Companies have noted this large shift in demand for ride service to delivery services and are actively working to create new innovations to the market. Uber had a head start since 2014 since its launch of Uber Eats, the food delivery service on the app. Due to the success of UberEats, other apps have been inspired to offer food and grocery delivery such – Postmates, GrubHub and Instacart are some of the most popular ones. Lyft, Uber’s rideshare company rival, has established the workings of an Essential Needs Delivery Service program, where companies and non-profit organizations can deliver essential items to those in need.
As the demand for rideshare has flunked, employees of rideshare services are forced to find other income opportunities during these trying times. Food delivery and grocery delivery services seem like a feasible switch under such circumstances, however, the dangers that come with this shift in professions in the face of a pandemic cannot be ignored. The risks that their job entails have greatly increased – these gig workers job has now become a civic duty to do the tasks that people are avoiding doing themselves in order to prevent becoming infected with coronavirus. These workers put themselves in great danger everyday as they put themselves out to face the public to serve others who can stay home where it is safe.
Furthermore, this seems to be the only solution for these workers who depend on income for their day-to-day living expenses, such as food and rent. There has been conflict concerning unemployment insurance benefits for these gig workers, although they have recently been granted status as employees with workers rights due to Assembly Bill 5, rather than independent contractors as they have been considered since the inception of these third-party rideshare and delivery service companies. Some Uber and Lyft drivers have allegedly filed for unemployment only to be denied or be approved for a sum of $0 compensation. However, a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program is currently being developed to assure that these gig employees get the financial support that they need and don’t have to put their life on the line to get a paycheck.
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The attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers know how to take on insurance companies and build your case to get the maximum compensation for your losses. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation by calling (888) 243-1195 or by emailing [email protected] today. You won’t owe us a penny until we win. También, ofrecemos servicio en español, ¡contacténos hoy!
