Working for an Algorithm

Ride-share driver and SEIU Gig Workers Union member John Mejia, center, speaks during a press conference outside of the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco on May 21, 2024. The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Prop. 22, a ballot initiative that allows ride-share companies, such as Uber and Lyft, to classify drivers as independent contractors.

California Uber and Lyft Drivers Could Get Back Pay

The state Labor Commissioner sues to help ride-hailing drivers with wage theft that happened before Proposition 22 took effect

October 16, 2024 13:18 ET

A crowd of protesters hold Prop. 22 signs with their mouths open and fists in the air. One prominent sign reads, "Unconstitutional Prop 22, Bad for Workers, Bad for the Economy, Bad for California."

Working for an Algorithm

California Companies Wrote Their Own Gig Worker Law. Now No One Is Enforcing It

Prop. 22 promised improved pay and benefits for California gig workers. But when companies fail to deliver, the state isn’t doing much to help push back

September 4, 2024 08:35 ET

Digital illustration of an exhausted female nurse sleeping at her desk. On top of her there are vignettes of her doing various activities including replacing an IV bag, running, giving a patient a cup of water, working at a computer and injecting someone’s arm with a needle.

Working for an Algorithm

What Happens When Nurses Are Hired Like Ubers

“You basically just hope that nothing goes wrong,” a nurse said about a shift with the app Clipboard

October 5, 2023 08:00 ET

A collage of four illustrations from our different investigations.

Inside The Markup

The Markup Wins Four SABEW Awards for Business Journalism

We were also awarded two honorable mentions

March 10, 2023 13:45 ET

Working for an Algorithm

When Drivers Are Attacked, Uber Leaves Police Waiting for Help

An investigation by The Markup found that Uber is slow to respond to law enforcement requests, leaving drivers vulnerable to repeated attacks

December 9, 2022 09:00 ET

Illustration of two people in the car being backlit. The driver has their hands on the wheel. The passenger is sitting behind the driver. There are street signs in the background and a rail in the foreground.

Working for an Algorithm

More Than 350 Gig Workers Carjacked, 28 Killed, Over the Last Five Years

Meanwhile, Uber confirms 24,000 alleged physical assaults and threatened assaults against its drivers from 2017 to 2020

July 28, 2022 08:00 ET

Illustration of Ethel Brooks, a Black woman wearing earrings and a blue shirt. The green monochrome background to her left shows her working at Amazon Fresh. The background to the right shows her on the hospital bed, with pills and envelopes in the foreground.

Working for an Algorithm

An Amazon Warehouse Worker’s Life Was Turned Upside Down After She Was Hospitalized for COVID

In California, OSHA records show the tech giant has reported no worker deaths and no hospitalizations related to the virus

June 9, 2022 12:00 ET

Illustration of a ride share app driver, with a worried expression in their rearview mirror.

Working for an Algorithm

More Than 50 U.S. Gig Workers Murdered on the Job in Five Years

New report lists Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, and Grubhub worker victims, and the tally is likely even higher

April 6, 2022 11:00 ET

Working for an Algorithm

Secretive Algorithm Will Now Determine Uber Driver Pay in Many Cities

The company has long used ride time and mileage to decide driver pay but is now turning to an opaque calculation called “Upfront Fares”

March 1, 2022 08:00 ET

Photo of a worker sorting out parcels in the outbound dock at Amazon fulfillment center in Eastvale, CA.

Working for an Algorithm

Data Provided by Amazon Workers Offers Rare Glimpse into COVID Cases in California Warehouses

Workers say getting sick leave and information on outbreaks can be a struggle

February 10, 2022 08:00 ET