Uber Drivers Lose Virus Sick Pay Bid, Must Arbitrate Claims (2)

A group of Massachusetts-based Uber Technologies Inc. drivers failed Thursday to convince a federal judge in California to immediately reclassify them as employees with paid sick leave due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and must now arbitrate their claims.

Uber and Lyft drivers have repeatedly argued that the companies’ worker classification practices have exacerbated the pandemic and endangered the public, because without the ability to stay home if they’re sick, drivers risk exposing passengers and further spreading the virus.

But even if that’s true, no court has held that these “indirect consequences” warrant a public injunction, Judge Edward M. Chen of ...