
How the Gig Economy Won in California
About this episode
Companies like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash have always argued that their workers are independent contractors, not employees. This distinction has been crucial in their rise from startups to multi-billion-dollar companies.
On Tuesday, Californians sided with these companies by approving Prop 22, a ballot measure that enshrines workers’ non-employee status. Why did progressive Californians side with Big Tech? And will the rest of the country follow California’s lead?
Guest: Sam Harnett, Tech and Labor reporter at KQED
Host
Lizzie O’Leary
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