Driving Undercover

Us and The New Gig Economy The new shared economy, or gig economy as it is called, has benefited millions of people around the world to become self-employed and financially independent by sharing their cars, homes, and other products and services with other people for a specific period of time in return for financial gain. It also allowed the owners and vested institutions of these new economies to amass considerable wealth and influence in a relatively short period of time without the benefit to changes in local, state, and federal laws that would enable all stakeholders to have an equitable share in its huge success. An attempt to interpret current laws to deal with challenges created by the new shared economy has in many cases resulted in unlawful disruptions to the transportation and hospitality industries by billion-dollar companies such as Uber and Airbnb in major cities around the world. While there is no doubt that the business models adopted by these entities are working and thriving well, they have nevertheless used every aggressive tool in the playbook and engaged in deliberate unethical business practices to take full advantage of the wholly unprepared and inadequately equipped regulatory agencies to bully their way into the marketplace. This book was written to share my experiences with readers to take a look from a basic level how peoples' lives are affected by working in the new gig economy that transforms the way we work, with the freedom to work anywhere and anytime, and to draw attention to the downsides of working with companies like Uber in the new economy and its relationship to local and state agencies, law enforcement, its customers, and most importantly, the strange and complicated relationship with its drivers, of which I was a part of for eight unforgettable months that changed my life. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the sacrifices of the hardworking Uber drivers who work long hours to make a decent living for their families and who will forever earn my huge respect and appreciation. Finally, I would like to dedicate this book to my wife, for without whose tireless insistence urging me to write this book to tell my story, this would have never been written.