Tech Brief: Uber Scores Rare Victory in Fight Over Employee Rights

In a landmark decision that could cause gig economy firms to collectively heave a breath of relief, Uber scored a surprise victory in France against attempts to force the ride hailing startup to categorise drivers as employees, thereby validating its role as a technology enabler to connect drivers and passengers. The Paris labour tribunal, in doing so, rejected former driver Florian Menard's demands to be awarded holiday and severance pay for his two-year stint and that he be treated as an employee, stating "Uber's business is intermediation rather than transportation, as the service contract clearly stipulates." Surprisingly, the decision comes months after Uber lost a similar appeal with London employment tribunal over the latter's decision to classify self-employed drivers as workers with minimum-wage rights, making them eligible for holiday pay.

Update: In a separate but equally important verdict issued today by a federal judge in California, drivers for food delivery service GrubHub were ruled independent contractors and not employees.