Uber, Lyft drivers wage & hour class action lawsuit investigation

Uber and Lyft wage & hour violations: who’s affected?

Do you work as a driver for Uber or Lyft? Did you provide an opt-out notice to one or both of these companies regarding arbitration?

Uber and Lyft drivers often qualify as employees, despite being classified by the rideshare companies as independent contractors. As employees, these drivers would be entitled to lawful compensation and benefits that they are denied as independent contractors. The companies’ action of classifying drivers as independent contractors instead of employees is called “employee misclassification.”

Some gig economy drivers may not be eligible to file an employee misclassification lawsuit due to an arbitration agreement that compels them to pursue their legal claims out of court. However, drivers who opted out of this agreement with Lyft or Uber are able to take legal action for employee misclassification.

Do You Qualify?

If you work as an Uber or Lyft driver anywhere in the United States and provided the company with an opt-out notice regarding arbitration, you are eligible for this employee misclassification class action lawsuit investigation.

Fill out the form on this page for more information.

What is employee misclassification?

Employee misclassification occurs when a worker is classified as an independent contractor instead of as an employee. Unlike employees, independent contractors work for themselves and aren’t subject to the control and direction of the company. These workers typically have more control over their work hours and how they complete work projects.

Although independent contractors have more freedom than employees, they are not guaranteed the same benefits and compensation. Employees have the right to minimum wage, overtime, and many other protections and benefits under federal and state wage and hour laws. Independent contractors do not.

Unfortunately, some workers may be misclassified as independent contractors when they actually qualify as employees under the law. This is generally the result of an employer’s desire to pay their workers less than they’re owed.

Uber & Lyft driver misclassification

Numerous companies have been accused of employee misclassification, including gig-economy employers such as Uber and Lyft. Plaintiffs in employee misclassification lawsuits claim these ride-share companies knowingly misclassify drivers in order to save on wages and avoid providing benefits. Although gig-economy work is different from traditional employment, drivers say that the control Lyft and Uber have over drivers and how they perform work makes them employees instead of independent contractors.

Gig worker misclassification class action lawsuits

There have been numerous employee misclassification lawsuits filed against Uber and Lyft by drivers who say they were wrongfully classified as independent contractors. The majority of these class action lawsuits were filed in California, a state with some of the strictest wage and hour laws in the country.

In California, Uber has agreed to multiple settlements to resolve claims that it misclassified its drivers. In 2019, the company agreed to a $20 million misclassification settlement. In 2022, Uber agreed to another settlement worth $8.44 million to resolve similar allegations. Lyft agreed to a similar settlement of $27 million in 2016.

Although California plaintiffs have been successful in reaching employee misclassification lawsuit settlements, plaintiffs in other states have not fared as well. Plaintiffs in new York had their claims forced out of court and sent to arbitration in 2021. Although some states have shut down these claims, others may remain open to legal action against Uber and Lyft. specifically, Massachusetts May be the next gig-economy “battleground” state due to a new ballot measure protecting gig economy workers, including rideshare drivers.

Join this Uber, Lyft wage and hour class action lawsuit investigation

In some cases, Uber and Lyft drivers may be prevented from filing an employee misclassification lawsuit in a court due to an arbitration agreement that binds them to settle legal matters through arbitration instead of court action. However, drivers who opted out of their company’s arbitration agreement may have legal standing against those ride share companies.

Taking legal action against Uber or Lyft could help drivers get the benefits they’re owed including minimum wage, overtime, and other compensation. A successful employee misclassification lawsuit could help recover these benefits for a large group of affected drivers.

If you work as an Uber or Lyft driver anywhere in the United States and provided an opt out notice regarding arbitration to the company, you are eligible for this employee misclassification class action lawsuit investigation.

Fill out the form on this page for more information.

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