Week 7 Assignment LEG500
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Strayer University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
500
Subject
Law
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by Powelmo
Week 7 Assignment: Legal Liability and the Gig Economy
Monique Powell
LEG500: Law Ethics and Corporate Governance
Professor Lori Baggot
November 18
th
, 2023
To: Professor Baggot
From: Monique Powell
Re: Legal Liability and the Gig Economy assignment, Week 7
Date: November 18, 2023
Overview
A gig economy is a labor market for short-term contract or freelance work instead of
permanent jobs.
This is a labor market where employees do not work as permanent employees.
Gigs main challenge is the lack of job security.
This is inconsistent work.
There is no steady
stream of income or benefits in the gig economy.
This memo will be focused on Widget, a ride-
sharing business with over 100 drivers.
Agency Law
Agency law is common law that controls relationships between an agent and their
principals.
The principle of this law is for the agent to act in the best interest of the client.
The
company as a ride-sharing business can have a complex relationship between the company and
the driver.
The driver can be an independent or employee contractor.
In this business as an
employee the company can be held responsible and as an independent contractor, the driver can
be held responsible because they are not under the company.
Drivers should be classified as
independent contractors so that the business will not be held liable for the actions of the drivers.
Widgets Responsibility
Widget is responsible for the conduct of the drivers that are working under them in
contract if the drivers are considered employees.
Widget can be liable for hiring employees
under negligence.
They should properly screen drivers before hiring them under contract for
their business.
This could include failure to conduct a background check, drug test, and even
checking precious driving records.
Widget is responsible for supervising all drivers and their
driving patterns.
If they fail to do so, that would be negligent supervision.
Supervision under
negligence could be failure to train, failure to monitor driving habits, and failure to act when
concerns are raised about driver's safety.
Widget could also be held responsible for the conduct
of its drivers.
Several drivers have had accidents, and one driver was arrested for driving while
intoxicated, which indicates that they are not taking sufficient actions to protect their customers
and businesses.
Policies to Implement
Widget should execute a thorough hiring and background check policy for all drivers who
wish to drive for them.
With this policy in place, it will catch all previous wrongdoings and
prevent the company from placing someone behind the wheel of their business and causing
safety concerns with customers.
When background checks are done, it helps the company learn
more about the person's history and identity.
If they did background checks they wouldn’t hire
someone who has a history of drinking and driving.
Safety Measures and Actions
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Training is important when you start any job.
Providing adequate training for all drivers,
informing them of all safety procedures and precautions.
This will cover the supervision
negligence by ensuring all employees are trained properly and aware of all rules, regulations, and
safety.
Keeping a daily monitor on drivers' driving habits and taking immediate action when
there are safety concerns will help keep Widget covered.
There should be a policy on drug and
alcohol use that all employees must follow and sign.
Each driver should be responsible for
having liability insurance in case of an incident.
This takes the liability off the company, places
it on the driver, and protects the business.
Reputation
Reputation is a big key when it comes to businesses as well.
Risks arise when you are
not represented in a positive way.
Customers should be protected in a business and if Widget
does not take the proper actions to protect its customers, it can face reputation risk.
New
customers are less likely to come when a company has a bad reputation.
Widget should take all
risks seriously and always implement policies to protect their customers.
Sources:
1.
Roger L. Miller. 2022. Business Law: Text & Cases – Commercial Law for Accountants,
12th edition.
2.
Marianne M. Jennings.
2022.
Business: Its Legal, Ethical, and Global
Environment.
https://strayer.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9780357447789/pageid/16
.