Business leaders all across the company and in New York have no doubt been carefully watching the growing number of reports regarding sexual harassment, assault and other forms of misconduct in the workplace. Over the last few years, it has come to light that this problem is not specific to any particular industry or geography. The pervasive nature of sexual misconduct at work puts a new responsibility on companies to address the safety of their employees.
Figuring out exactly what to change or implement to address any problem may often first require a full understanding of the existing situation. One of the two major ridesharing companies just released the findings of a report on sexual misconduct on its platform. According to a report by Vox, the company has received praise for its transparency in sharing the results. However, the findings highlight not just problems associated with sexual harassment or assault, but also the classification of workers and more extensive rights and protections for them.
In 2018 alone, more than 3,000 drivers or passengers were said to have experienced some form of sexual assault or harassment during a ride. More than four out of 10 of those were drivers. It is important to understand that these drivers are not employees of the company, but rather are classified as independent contractors. That designation changes the requirements of the company to provide certain protections, like workers’ compensation, to them.
The company indicates that it is taking the safety of its drivers and its passengers seriously and is continually evaluating new ways to improve safety. This may involve the use of cameras or emergency buttons in the app. No doubt many will be watching to see what changes are rolled out by the company.
