Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

2-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Sociology

Advisor

Robert C. Smith

Committee Members

Héctor Cordero-Guzmán

William Kornblum

Subject Categories

Public Policy | Work, Economy and Organizations

Keywords

labor, work, Uber, employment, misclassification

Abstract

This dissertation critically examines the misclassification-based business model of Uber and Lyft, exposing its role in perpetuating low wages, economic precarity, and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions for ride-hail drivers in South Florida. Drawing on over 220 in-depth interviews, thousands of hours of ethnographic research spanning nearly a decade, and rigorous legal analysis, this study dismantles industry claims of high earnings, job satisfaction, and widespread driver preference for independent contractor status. Instead, it reveals how Uber and Lyft exploit their drivers through algorithmic wage controls, externalized costs of work, and a lack of basic labor protections, all while maintaining a veneer of flexibility and entrepreneurship. This study demonstrates that ride-hail drivers in South Florida earn significantly below minimum wage, work long hours, and endure chronic unpredictability in both earnings and schedules, unsafe and unhealthy work conditions, and a lack of recourse for grievances. While platform companies and their proponents argue that drivers prefer independent contractor status, this study uncovers the company generated misinformation and coercion that obscure drivers' understanding of prevailing worker classification categories and labor and employment law. Moreover, the findings reveal that contrary to corporate rhetoric, most drivers want the protections and benefits associated with employee status, including a guaranteed minimum wage and unionization and collective bargaining rights, while only 10.57% of drivers prefer independent contractor status. By introducing empirically grounded evidence that center drivers’ lived experiences, this work equips policymakers with the evidence needed to counter platform company-driven narratives and worker exploitation and craft an equitable worker protection system that ensure security, dignity, and fairness for ride-hail workers.

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This work is embargoed and will be available for download on Monday, February 01, 2027

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