To:

Interested Parties

From: Mitch Markel, Benenson Strategy Group
Greg Strimple, GS Strategy Group
Date:

August 25, 2020

Re:

Findings from our recent survey of likely 2020 Voters and app-based Drivers

Uber Press Contacts:
Matt Wing - Wing@uber.com/Kayla Whaling - whaling@uber.com
Benenson Strategy Group Press Contact:
press@bsgco.com
GS Strategy Group Press Contact:
press@gsstrategygroup.com

About the Survey
Uber has proposed changes to state laws to give app-based Drivers benefits and protections along with a
number of corporate commitments to improve the quality of independent work. Uber engaged two
independent and well respected research firms, Democratic-leaning Benenson Strategy Group and
Republican-leaning GS Strategy Group to come together in a bi-partisan independent research project to
explore the needs and concerns of app-based Drivers, their attitudes about Uber’s proposal, as well as
the voter perspective on the issue.

Methodology
Between July 10-July 18, 2020, Benenson Strategy Group and GS Strategy Group conducted online
interviews among 1,002 Drivers with Uber in the U.S. (MoE ± 3%), defined as those 18 years or older who
had driven with Uber or Uber Eats in the past year, and 1,301 Likely Voters (MoE ± 2.6%), defined as
registered voters 18 years or older who say they are likely to vote in 2020.

Key Findings
Drivers and Voters overwhelmingly support Uber’s new Independent Contractor (IC) plan
described below that allows Drivers to continue to work as Independent Contractors, maintaining
the flexibility and freedom of working independently, but gives them access to benefits that today are
only available to employees under existing labor laws.
❖ 82% of Drivers support this plan, which offers access to certain benefits, while prioritizing the
flexibility that brings them to independent work. 88% of Drivers agree that this plan would benefit
them (40% strongly agree).
❖ Voters overwhelmingly support the policy plan and it is broadly supported across party
and geographical lines. 3 in 4 (76%) Voters support the plan, including: 78% of Democrats,
75% of Republicans, and 74% of Independents; 72% in the Northeast, 76% in the Midwest, 75%
in the South, and 79% in the West; 74% of those in battleground states.

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 Plan description shown to Drivers and Voters: This plan would combine the flexibility of Independent
Contractor status with some benefits and protections typically associated with being an employee. This
plan would not make Drivers employees, and therefore they would not be entitled to all the benefits and
protections of employment, but they would receive more benefits than they currently receive as an
independent contractor.
If given the choice, Drivers overwhelmingly prefer to get benefits with IC status over receiving
benefits through employment. They do not just prefer IC status, traditional employment is incompatible
with the way these workers utilize this earning opportunity.
❖ When presented with 3 options - employment, current IC status, or a plan to maintain the
flexibility of IC status with access to certain benefits - 85% of Drivers chose the plan or the status
quo, with only 15% opting for employment.
This proposed plan to enhance IC status is a better alternative than either of the options currently
available to Drivers.
❖ 89% of Drivers agree this plan is a better alternative than forcing Drivers to be employees, and
82% agree it is a better alternative than remaining ICs without benefits.
❖ Similarly, 84% of Voters agree this plan is a better alternative than forced employment, and 85%
agree it is a better alternative than the current IC status without benefits and protections.
While this plan may not be a cornerstone issue for politicians, their position on this matter does
have sway for Voters, and Drivers and Voters believe that both companies and the government should
play a role in shaping this plan.
❖ 77% of Drivers are more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, while 85% are
less likely to vote for someone who blocks it.
➢ Drivers believe corporations and the government both have a responsibility to modernize
the employment system. 88% of Drivers believe the government should remove barriers
preventing Drivers from receiving benefits while they are independent contractors, and
86% believe rideshare and delivery companies should work to remove these barriers.
❖ 79% of Voters are more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, while 71% are
less likely to vote for someone who blocks it. Independent Voters are most influenced, with 84%
more likely to vote for a representative that supports this plan, and 77% less likely to vote for
someone who blocks it.
➢ 82% of Voters agree that rideshare and delivery companies need to step up and change
the employment system so gig workers are better protected. Voters also believe that the
government should remove barriers to enacting this plan (81%) and that the plan should
be encouraged by the government (78%).
❖ Similarly, in 2020 battleground states, 79% of Voters are more likely to vote for a representative
that supports this plan, and 70% are less likely to vote for someone who blocks it.

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 Setting the Stage
When given the choice of being an IC or employee, the vast majority of Drivers prefer to maintain
their IC status--69% of all Drivers and 66% of Drivers identifying as full-time prefer to be classified as an
independent contractor rather than an employee.
❖ In fact, when given the choice between “receiving benefits the employees typically receive like
health insurance, workers’ compensation, and paid time off” and “being able to maintain schedule
flexibility like being able to drive when and where you want,” 77% of Drivers say flexibility is
more important than receiving benefits. In other words, Drivers prefer flexibility over the
benefits of employment by more than 3-to-1.
Drivers are not looking for a “9-to-5” job; the flexibility of driving is a huge draw and rigid
schedule and structure doesn’t work for them. 86% of Drivers say a reason they chose app-based
driving was to have flexibility in their schedule (71% say this was a major reason) and 86% of Drivers
agree that they would no longer be able to drive if it didn’t offer a flexible schedule.
❖ 80% of Drivers say the ability to schedule their work around their family, health, or education
needs is a reason they choose to drive with rideshare or delivery apps.
❖ Family obligations are important for a large proportion of Drivers: 36% of Drivers have children
under the age of 18 and 22% are caregivers for another member of their family.
Drivers don’t just prefer IC status, they need the flexibility in order to continue to earn.
❖ When asked whether or not they would continue to drive if Drivers were reclassified as traditional
employees, and would receive the benefits and protections of an employee, but had to work fulltime hours on a set schedule, report to a boss, and abide by other rules set by the company, 70%
of Drivers said they would not want to continue driving.

Though Drivers prefer flexibility and Independent Contractor (IC) status, there is still a clear
need to better protect these workers: 84% of Drivers wish they could retain flexibility in their
schedule but receive more benefits, like some of the benefits traditional employees receive, from
driving (52% strongly agree).

Important Driver Facts
Flexibility, freedom, and control are essential to Drivers.
❖ % of Drivers who say each is a major reason why they drive for rideshare/delivery companies:
➢ 71% say to have flexibility in my schedule
➢ 60% say to be able to schedule my work around my family needs, health, other work, or
education
➢ 55% say to pay for my basic needs like rent or food
➢ 51% say to be my own boss
➢ 51% say to control my own financial future
❖ 69% of Drivers say they consider themselves a part-time driver, and only 19% say it is their only
source of income.
❖ Just 34% of Uber Drivers work only with Uber or Uber Eats; the remaining 66% also drive with
other app-based companies like Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, or Amazon Flex.
Expanding options so ICs who do not currently have access to traditional employment benefits
can choose benefits that work for them is important, though this isn’t the top priority for most
Drivers.
❖ When provided with a list of current IC and employment benefits, elements that protect flexibility
and freedom ranked as most essential for Drivers, like the freedom to schedule hours (73% say is
essential) and the ability to take long absences without penalty (66% say is essential). More
traditional benefits are second tier priorities, like occupational accident insurance (59% say is

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 essential), antidiscrimination and sexual harassment protection (59% say is essential) and a
benefits fund (54% say is essential).
A one-size-fits-all benefits plan will not fit Drivers; the ability to choose what they need is a critical
point for these workers.
❖ 75% of Drivers prefer a policy where Drivers can pick and choose which benefits they get, even if
the total dollar amount provided is slightly lower, compared to a policy where all Drivers receive
the same benefits and cannot choose, but the total dollar amount provided is slightly higher
(25%).
Those who choose to drive for app-based rideshare and delivery companies are well-informed,
both in their decision to work as ICs and as future voters seeking representation to make their
Driver experiences better.
❖ Drivers are an educated and politically attuned group; 54% have at least a college degree, and
40% regularly discuss politics with family or friends.
❖ Politically, Drivers are fairly centrist; 45% consider themselves moderate, while 29% identify as
liberal, and 26% as conservative.

Important Voter Facts
An enhanced IC classification aligns with Voter beliefs that the US employment system is in need
of change.
❖ Only 1 in 4 Voters believe that the employment system in the US is working well for most workers
❖ 62% of Voters agree that we need to update our employment system to accommodate the gig
economy; this number jumps to 74% among Democrats.
Americans are concerned about protections offered to gig economy workers with just 28% saying
the current system protects gig workers. The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on existing
problems and inequities, mounting to widespread calls for change.
❖ 86% of Voters agree that the coronavirus pandemic has exposed flaws in our employment
system and shows that we need to shift how we determine what kinds of workers receive
benefits.
❖ 80% of Voters agree that it’s not fair that we have an employment system in which some workers
get benefits and protections, while others don’t.
❖ 75% of Voters agree that the employment system is outdated and not adapted to the current
workforce.
Voters overwhelmingly support providing Drivers with certain benefits and protections.
❖ The vast majority of Voters not only support the general idea of updating the IC classification, but
most, 79%, support providing occupational accident insurance and 78% support creating a
benefits fund, key elements of Uber’s plan for Drivers.
❖ Voters, however, also understand that only options that prioritize flexibility and freedom make
sense for Drivers. 86% of Voters agree that it is important that any changes to app-based driving
and delivering protect the schedule flexibility of Drivers.
Voters are keeping Driver needs and preferences in mind. They want to do right by these workers,
and understand that changes to classification would impact Driver experience, so they want to listen to
those with a stake in this fight.
❖ 88% of Voters agree the plan will benefit Drivers.
❖ 79% of Voters would be more likely to support the policy if a majority of Drivers supported it
(note - 82% of Drivers support the plan).

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 For full results of Driver survey click here
For full results of Likely Voters survey click here
For an infographic of the data click here

About Benenson Strategy Group
From the war room to the board room, Benenson Strategy Group helps clients meet their challenges
head on: from competitive threats to crisis management; from rebranding to building reputation and
strengthening trust. From winning campaigns to growing market share.
BSG’s clients include presidential candidates, international heads of state, and major issue-advocacy
organizations. We were the leading pollster for President Barack Obama during the 2008 and 2012
elections. BSG has also guided many Fortune 100 companies through some of the most notable
communications challenges in the past decade, including companies like Procter & Gamble, Campbell
Soup Company, Weight Watchers, and Toyota.

About GS Strategy Group
GS Strategy Group clients benefit from our unique combination of expertise in public opinion and
consumer behavior, and our extensive knowledge of regulated industries, the political process, and public
policy making. We have leveraged our research, analytical, and communications skills to devise and
execute successful public policy and marketing campaigns for some of the country’s leading corporations
and institutions.
GS Strategy Group team members have served as pollster and senior advisor in presidential,
gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns across the country, including Senator John McCain’s 2008
presidential bid, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in his upset victory of 2009 and reelection in 2013,
Illinois Senator Mark Kirk’s victory in 2010, and Texas Senator John Cornyn’s reelection in 2014. More
recently, GSSG conducted polling and guided strategy on behalf of the National Republican
Congressional Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund.

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