Coronavirus spread emphasizes precariousness of gig economy work

As companies scramble to release safety guidelines for employees, many say they simply cannot afford to take time off if they are sick.

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AXIOS COVERAGE

By: Kia Kokalitcheva • Newsletter: Axios Pro Rata
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

While a growing number of white collar companies are asking employees to work from home, gig economy companies seem to be doing little to protect workers in the face of coronavirus — though the pressure is mounting for them to do more.

Why it matters: While engineers and business managers at companies like Uber and Lyft can bring their laptops home and access corporate health resources, the independent contractors who ferry passengers, hot meals and groceries, cannot. This highlights painful differences between corporate “haves” and “have-nots.”

Go deeper: Read the full story