Jason Peters| April 26, 2021, | The NeoLiberal Post
Many Uber Drivers are disgruntled today as they have been OUT OF WORK for several weeks while Uber perform Background. This is to determine if their Uber Eats Drivers can now also do Uber X (or pick ups). One Driver stated that he only decided to add the plus one to his Eats platform because Uber had reached out to him to do so and indicated that it wouldn’t take more than 24 hours to update his account. It has been several weeks and the Uber Driver is still out of work after he was assured that expanding his account to do pickups would only take one day.
Hence, this has led to many Uber Eats Drivers protestations today calling Uber draconian. They are asking: would they have their stellar 5—star Uber Driver STOP working for over 2 weeks to perform a performance review & background check in order to promote or add new responsibilities without any compensation or condition to continue driving?
In our Company here at The NeoLiberal & most considerate & professional businesses, if an employee needs to undergo a review by said business, in order to promote an employee, then the company would either promote the employee contingent upon the completion of the review or wait for the review while they continue to perform regular duties. So that they still continue to earn and make a living. This is basic HR Policy and Practice—a company that cares about their employees and workers. Uber cannot claim that here.
But what Uber has done is to completely STOP their already working Drivers (who do not receive Unemployment or Loss of Wages benefits) from working to do a background check to determine if they be promoted to do a particular job. This is insensitive as the Drivers who were already working for them (over 25 hours & up to 80 hours per week) are home BROKE & unable to survive.
But Uber has objected stating that it is their PROCESS which is necessary to keep their riders safe and to avert any legal penalties from not performing such a review. But the issue is not with refusing to do a review, rather than the logic of doing such a review without proper planning that would ensure your employees continue to work and earn.
In effect what has occurred here is that, while Uber’s position may sound reasonable; it is limited, unethical and inhuman. It only considers their (Uber’s) legal obligations and safety protocols without exploring how they can comply with the law while still ensuring that their Drivers livelihoods are not impacted by a limited and narrow process or policy. And that is what has happened here, Uber employed an unreasonable policy alluding to process that debilitated their Drivers to work and earn a living. The process is illogical and redundant.
Process must be based on sound business practice that is sensitive, considerate and rational. It cannot be archaic and emotionless and it is not linear given the tectonic changes in work and life since the COVID pandemic. And it is a policy decision that is human based in suppositions that is far from logical and is humane and in ethical. The Drivers in question stated that they recently completed two prior background checks within the last 5 months and that they have asked Uber to allow them to drive contingent upon them receiving the report. But Uber has rejected this stating that it shouldn’t take no more than 3-5 days. Yet the drivers are waiting or over 20 days. Further it has been reported to the NeoLiberal news that they have been driving for several months with a 99 percent satisfaction and over 1000 trips and have attained diamond status. But after sitting at home for several weeks will loose their diamond status.
Moreover, the drivers stated that Uber delayed the process of the review by Checkr, because Uber failed to provide Checkr with the necessary information that they had requested from Uber as Uber has waited eleven days before sending the said report. The Drivers are not seeking to go back to just delivering with Uber eats as they have become upset and distressed over the issues and the ways it has significantly impacted their lives.
We will continue to work this story and report as we get more details.
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