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Writing Assignment One: The Work Context of the Rideshare Industry
Cassidy Preetam
Toronto Metropolitan University
MHR 520 021: Industrial Relations
Professor Tim Fowler
September 27, 2024
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Commodity
Throughout the articles presented, it is evident that gig workers conceptualize work as more
than just a commodity. Viewing work as a commodity denotes that work is solely a product that
is bought and sold, as governed by the economic forces of supply and demand. Rideshare
companies strive to maximize profit by minimizing optimal labour costs, often paying gig
workers less than minimum wage after the deduction of fees and additional expenses despite
achieving record-high shares. Evidence of such can be seen when “out-of-pocket costs for
insurance, gas and car loan payments” result in a median low estimate wage of $6.37 per hour
(Jabakhanji, 2024). Tasks such as waiting for passengers to aboard the vehicle, planning
alternative routes due to road closures, or social exchanges are not recognized in the economic
transaction of driving passengers for money. Given that all unpaid work is ignored, these noncommoditized and time-consuming tasks are unaccounted for in the work context of gig
workers in the rideshare industry. Regarding the implications of worker wellbeing, the worker
must take responsibility and provide for their own welfare. According to John Budd, “workers
are assumed to find their situations acceptable because they would otherwise seek better
situations… unpaid work and other forms of non-commoditized work are devalued, if not
ignored” (Budd, 2011). The best way to provide for worker wellbeing in this context is to find a
new form of employment. Evidently, Uber driver “Musharaf Hossen, has been driving for two
years… [and] says he might call it quits soon” a result of work being conceptualized as a
commodity (Jabakhanji, 2024). Under this context, there is no improvement for worker
wellbeing, where it is low.
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Occupational Citizenship
In response to major rideshare companies conceptualizing work as a commodity, work can
further be viewed as occupational citizenship. In the work context, workers can be viewed as
citizens with dignity and rights. The rideshare market can be seen neglecting the human
citizenship of their workers by paying them less than minimum wage to nothing at all, and
failing to provide coverage and benefits for “’cyclists [who] get injured… [or] struck by cars’”
(Julien, 2024). Protestors further argue that they have yet to go on vacation, expressing their
concern to be fairly treated with rights and protections. Although society sets the standard of
minimum wage for survivability, gig workers should be recognized as humans who need more
than just to survive; they should have more freedom that solely quitting. With respects to
fostering worker welling, Uber driver Kamran urges that “drivers need more protection given
the challenges they face” (Jabakhanj, 2024). The prospects of worker wellbeing in this context
may include recognizing gig workers of rideshare companies as employees as opposed to
contractors. Employees “are entitled to a minimum wage under Ontario’s labour laws. However,
drivers are classified as contractors, and don’t have the same protections” (Woodward, 2024). It
is notable that the workers presented are advocating for increased worker wellbeing under the
protection of laws for fair wages and benefits, as worker wellbeing is low.
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Disutility
The work context further conceptualizes work as disutility. Gig drivers seek work to ultimately
maximize their pleasure, as attained through leisure consumption, and minimize their pain
given their investment of time. However, rideshare workers begin to strike when it becomes
evident that the rational calculation of utility no longer exists – their investment of time and
resources no longer provide them with sufficient income to engage in leisure activities, goods,
or services, leaving workers dissatisfied. For instance, George Wedges, who “has been an Uber
driver for the last year and a half as a side hustle”, is partaking in the strike against rideshare
companies because he is paid below wage standards with no employee benefits (Julien, 2024).
Spending more than an hour of his spare time to earn less than minimum wage is no longer
fruitful, the benefits do not outweigh the costs. Since work is viewed as a “lousy activity
tolerated only to obtain goods, services, and leisure that provide pleasure… [workers may] want
to exert minimal levels of effort” (Budd, 2011). Through the lens of disutility, rideshare
companies can increase wages and provide benefits to motivate workers to engage in their
work. As a result, gig workers may feel less inclined to voice their negative outlook of their work
and strike. Worker wellbeing under the concept of disutility stems from the leisure benefits
obtained. Although rideshare work allows flexible working hours, the minimal income provided
does not provide workers with the opportunity to engage in leisure benefits for a high quality of
life. As a result, worker wellbeing in this context is low.
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References
Budd, J. W. (2011). Conceptualizing Work and Worker Well-being. Paper presented at the
International Labour Process Conference, Leeds, UK.
Jabakhanji, S. (2024, February 14). Toronto ride-share, food delivery drivers strike, calling for
more fair pay, better work conditions. CBC News.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/uber-lyft-rideshare-drivers-strike-toronto1.7114903
Julien, R. (2014, February 15). Toronto Uber, Lyft workers take part in global protest against low
wages: ‘People need to know the truth’. Toronto Star.
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/toronto-uber-lyft-workers-take-part-in-globalprotest-against-low-wages-people-need-to/article_80cda166-cb57-11ee-bda2a3b8f4d2cba1.html
Woodward, J. (2024, February 12). Toronto ride-hail drivers to strike in wake of making just
$6.37 an hour, new report finds. CTV News. https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-ridehail-drivers-to-strike-in-wake-of-making-just-6-37-an-hour-new-report-finds-1.6765371