California Proposition 22 (2020)
DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, and Instacart spent more than $200 million on a ballot measure to exempt app-based drivers from a state law that would classify them as employees. Voters approved it 58% to 42%.
App-based drivers remained independent contractors in California with limited pay and benefit guarantees.
Gig companies used the win to lobby against employee classification laws elsewhere, making New York City's direct pay regulation the exception.
NYC took the opposite path from California: instead of fighting over worker classification, the city set a minimum pay rate and enforced it directly against companies.
