Executive Summary: As the sharing economy continues to gain popularity with workers, businesses, and consumers by offering increased job flexibility and consumer choice, courts and regulatory agencies have struggled with how to fit this new “virtual” workforce into a legal framework originally established to protect those employed in a traditional brick and mortar environment. A primary point of contention has been whether these workers should be classified as employees or whether they are properly treated as independent contractors. The Florida Legislature recently addressed this issue in the transportation industry by enacting a statute that will permit transportation network companies (TNCs) to lawfully classify their drivers as independent contractors for the purposes of Florida law if they meet the statute’s requirements.
Home > State Law Articles > Florida > General (FL) > New Florida Law Addresses Status of Workers and Other Issues in Ride-Sharing Industry