Following Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi’s op-ed in The New York Times proposing new benefits and protections for drivers, Uber is releasing the results of a poll of drivers and voters conducted by two independent, bipartisan polling firms

Democratic-leaning Benenson Strategy Group and Republican-leaning GS Strategy Group  surveyed over 1,000 drivers and over 1,300 likely voters from both parties to get their views on Uber’s Working Together Priorities plan which would give gig workers new benefits and protections

Key data and results can be accessed here. Among the poll’s findings:

Drivers and Voters overwhelmingly support Uber’s new Independent Contractor (IC) plan described below that allows Drivers to continue to work as Independent Contractors, maintaining the flexibility and freedom of working independently, but gives them access to benefits that today are only available to employees under existing labor laws. 

  •  82% of Drivers support this plan, which offers access to certain benefits, while prioritizing the flexibility that brings them to independent work. 88% of Drivers agree that this plan would benefit them (40% strongly agree).
  • Voters overwhelmingly support the policy plan and it is broadly supported across party and geographical lines. 3 in 4 (76%) Voters support the plan, including: 78% of Democrats, 75% of Republicans, and 74% of Independents; 72% in the Northeast, 76% in the Midwest, 75% in the South, and 79% in the West; 74% of those in battleground states. 

 If given the choice, Drivers overwhelmingly prefer to get benefits with IC status over receiving benefits through employment. They do not just prefer IC status, traditional employment is incompatible with the way these workers utilize this earning opportunity.

  • When presented with 3 options – employment, current IC status, or a plan to maintain the flexibility of IC status with access to certain benefits – 85% of Drivers chose the plan or the status quo, with only 15% opting for employment.

This proposed plan to enhance IC status is a better alternative than either of the options currently available to Drivers.

  • 89% of Drivers agree this plan is a better alternative than forcing Drivers to be employees, and 82% agree it is a better alternative than remaining ICs without benefits. 
  • Similarly, 84% of Voters agree this plan is a better alternative than forced employment, and 85% agree it is a better alternative than the current IC status without benefits and protections. 

While this plan may not be a cornerstone issue for politicians, their position on this matter does have sway for Voters, and Drivers and Voters believe that both companies and the government should play a role in shaping this plan. 

  •  77% of Drivers are more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, while 85% are less likely to vote for someone who blocks it. 
      •  Drivers believe corporations and the government both have a responsibility to modernize the employment system. 88% of Drivers believe the government should remove barriers preventing Drivers from receiving benefits while they are independent contractors, and 86% believe rideshare and delivery companies should work to remove these barriers. 
    • 79% of Voters are more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, while 71% are less likely to vote for someone who blocks it. Independent Voters are most influenced, with 84% more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, and 77% less likely to vote for someone who blocks it. 
      •  82% of Voters agree that rideshare and delivery companies need to step up and change the employment system so gig workers are better protected. Voters also believe that the government should remove barriers to enacting this plan (81%) and that the plan should be encouraged by the government (78%). 
  • Similarly, in 2020 battleground states, 79% of Voters are more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, and 70% are less likely to vote for someone who blocks it.

For the full results, the app-based driver survey is here and the likely voters survey is here. 

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