ANALYSIS: The Liability Impact of Gig Worker Status

Fights about worker classification could strike at the very heart of the gig economy. Labor organizations and tech companies already have committed millions of dollars to this issue, and recent developments in legislatures and courts indicate that the fight over worker classification is only likely to intensify. The ongoing debate carries impact beyond the issues of wages and benefits. It will also determine who is liable for injuries caused by gig workers.

State and federal law provide workers classified as “employees” with various protections, like a guaranteed minimum wage, overtime pay, and subsidized health care. Classifying workers as employees helps ...