Like pandemic safety Measures have been lifted in the US, with ride-hailing drivers at risk of being deactivated for imposing their own mask regulations.
Almost two weeks ago, Uber and Lyft removed buttons in the app that let US drivers easily cancel a trip if their passenger isn’t wearing a mask — to protect themselves against Covid-19.
Lyft driver Rondu Gantt said: “It’s an absolute statement of what they care about in the workplace.
The change comes after a federal judge in Florida overturned a nationwide mask-wearing order in April that applied to many forms of public transportation: trains, planes, buses and ride-hailing services. . The next day, both companies lifted their own mask regulations. For drivers like Gantt, who says he is “maximum affected” and still wears a face mask while driving for Lyft in the Bay Area, the change “adds an extra layer of complexity to the situation.” driving.”
He mostly agrees with people not wearing masks in his car if they sit in the back with the windows open to promote more airflow. But when Uber and Lyft changed their mask policies, they also scrapped pandemic-era rules that forbade front-seat passengers and allowed one more person per ride. Gantt didn’t want people without masks sitting right next to him, especially when it was raining and the windows had to be closed. “There’s a lot of talk, a lot of thought related to this issue,” he said.
On top of that, Gantt feels even less in control in his own car, which is where he works – a feeling that has led him to join an advocacy group for drivers called Gig. worker Rising two years ago. Throughout the pandemic, frontline workers say they have faced elements of public anger and fear, divided over whether masks are an important public health tool or a threat. politicized nuisance. (Scientifically proven that mask, and especially N95, KN95 and KF94slow and prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.) One in 10 drivers in the Bay Area has attempted to ride without a mask even when authorized, Gantt said.
As governments revert to face covering policies, ride-hailing drivers are left to set their own rules. A spokesperson for Uber and Lyft said that any driver or driver who wishes to continue wearing a mask can do so. In an email to drivers last week, Uber wrote that masks are still recommended.
In the US, app-based drivers are independent contractors, which means they legally run their own businesses. In theory, apps should only act as intermediaries between drivers and drivers.
But drivers must abide by the rules of the platform to continue driving for them. These rules include how often they’re allowed to cancel once they’ve accepted. Drivers who spoke to WIRED said they were worried about a cancellation penalty for someone who failed to comply with self-imposed masking rules. Drivers who cancel too often may be threatened with “deactivation,” meaning they are removed from the platform. Cancellation rate also affects a driver’s ranking in the company’s bonus tier. For example, on Uber, drivers with high ratings and low cancellation rates are part of a special program that allows them to see where the fare is going before accepting, and that gives them support. “premium” — a privilege for drivers who say they struggle to access contract economy companies when they need it.
