Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Uber is making serious changes to its app in California in an effort to comply with the state’s groundbreaking new gig work law that makes it harder for the company to classify drivers as independent contractors.
On Wednesday, Uber emailed over 150,000 drivers and millions of passengers to alert them to the changes. The app will now display prices differently, allow users to select preferred drivers, and discontinue some benefits associated with its Uber Rewards program.
The company is betting that by giving drivers more control over their rides and making fares more transparent, they can avoid some of the repercussions of the law, which enshrines the so-called “ABC test” for determining whether someone is a contractor or employee. But…