A Consulting firm hired through Uber discovered That Its Drivers Are more than pleased

the corporate released the results of a survey Monday morning that paints a selective portrait of its drivers.

December 7, 2015 

Uber launched a survey on Monday whose findings are inclined to give a boost to its position in misclassification proceedings and regulatory battles. The survey found the ride-hailing company’s drivers are happier than ever and most work phase-time, nevertheless it has also been criticized for with the exception of key information factors like driver cash and how many drivers work full-time—omissions that are less surprising while you consider that the study was performed by means of a brand technique firm.

The survey polled 833 of Uber’s greater than 400,000 drivers. Eighty-one % of them stated they had been glad with the expertise of riding for Uber, a slight raise over the 78% who gave the identical response in a equivalent survey released again in January 2015.

Uber, which is dealing with court cases in a couple of states alleging that its drivers—although categorized as contractors—are treated as workers, has argued that it serves as a flexible choice for folks to earn supplemental earnings on their own phrases. The survey found that sixty nine% of its drivers have other full-time or part-time work out of doors of Uber, and that fifty% force fewer than 10 hours per week on reasonable. almost the entire drivers, ninety seven% of contributors, mentioned they have been glad with the pliability that Uber allowed them.

Uber has additionally forged itself as an possibility for students, folks working round youngsters’s schedules, and folks between jobs. The survey mentioned that eleven% of its drivers are students, forty eight% have kids 18 years previous or younger residing at house, and 67% had no prior skilled driving experience.

simply as important, on the other hand, is what does not appear in the survey results. though the survey pronounced that almost all drivers are part-time drivers, it didn’t report what number of drivers labored more than 40 hours per week (20% rely on Uber as their sole supply of earnings). remaining yr, the survey reported that drivers who had previously pushed taxis earned $23 per hour however that didn’t account for driver expenses, like gas, that significantly scale back take-dwelling pay. This year, all through which some drivers have complained about fare cuts that impact their pay, there isn’t a information about driver pay. though the survey examines whether or not drivers like the flexibility on the platform, it doesn’t ask them, as an example, whether or not they’re happy with their pay or the best way that the company communicates with them.

Uber’s survey appears to color a selective picture of its drivers. Which is strictly what it’s designed to do. Like many companies, Uber hired a model strategy firm called Benenson strategy group to include data into its message.

The firm has labored for political campaigns like Barack Obama’s in addition to firms like Toyota, Southwest, and Walmart. under a tab referred to as “What we do,” Benenson technique crew’s web site explains that it “assist[s] brands join with customers’ thoughts” by way of collecting and integrating totally different data sources and drawing upon “language expertise” to “connect the dots between your model story and your audience.”

[photograph: Flickr person Thomas Anderson]

fast company , learn Full Story

(15)