Uber Settles Driver Lawsuit for $100M

Uber might have just dodged the biggest bullet aimed at its disruptive, ride-sharing business model. In a massive settlement announced last night, Uber will pay up to $100 million to drivers who sued the company in an effort to be considered employees. In return, drivers agreed to remain independent contractors.

While this may seem like a distinction in name only, the legal status of Uber's workforce has an enormous numerical impact on Uber's bottom line.

Settle Down, Now

The settlement had been a long time coming, and arrived just in time for Uber -- the case was scheduled for trial in June. The drivers had scored a couple victories in the run-up to trial, with the Ninth Circuit upholding the lawsuit's certification as a class action. While some were eager to see how a jury would view Uber drivers, both sides can something with the settlement.

Around 385,000 drivers in California and Massachusetts will divvy up $84 million, a number that could climb as high as $100 million, depending on Uber's valuation reaches 1.5 times its current value. And Uber continues to avoid paying drivers expenses and benefits, which would be necessary (and necessarily eat through the company's profits and market valuation) if drivers were classified as employees.

All Part of the Contract

In addition to the buyout, Uber will have to make some changes to how it treats its employees independent contractors:

• Drivers will now have prior notice and the chance to correct problems before they are terminated, and Uber will create appeals panels to hear challenges to deactivations;
• Drivers will now be able to solicit tips from riders, and Uber will advertise that tips are not included in fare prices on the app;
• Uber will stop deactivating drivers who frequently turn down rides; and
• Uber will create an internal process to handle driver pay disputes.

Additionally, Uber agreed to help create drivers' associations in California and Massachusetts. These groups aren't officially unions, but like unions they can allow workers to bring grievances to management. Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney for drivers, released a statement indicating that nothing in the settlement precludes other courts or U.S. labor authorities from classifying Uber drivers as employees, as the California Labor Commission has already done.

Related Resources:

• Uber Drivers Remain Independent Contractors as Lawsuit Settled (Reuters)
• Teamsters or Disrupters? Unions for Gig Workers in CA and Seattle (FindLaw's Free Enterprise)
• Lyft Amputates a Toe to Save the Foot, Settles Class Action Suit (FindLaw's California Case Law)
• Club's Strippers Are Employees, Kan. Supreme Court Rules (FindLaw's Decided)