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by fucking_tragedy 2458 days ago
> Talk to the actual couriers

I have: they don't like the current arrangement. When they're tipped via apps, they don't even get to keep them.

Doesn't sound like they're independent contractors when they can't set their own rates and collect from their clients without the delivery app companies skimming their tips.

> they don’t want to be employees, because this very frequently is not a full time job.

This is a false dichotomy. Many people work multiple jobs on a flexible schedule where they are considered employees at each of their employers.

They also hate the tax burden that is quarterly filing and paying the self-employment tax.
1 comments
shawnz 2458 days ago
> When they're tipped via apps, they don't even get to keep them.

I thought the only one still doing this was DoorDash, and they reversed it after the recent backlash?

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untog 2458 days ago
It's nebulous. Apps that employ(/contract/whatever) their delivery drivers separately from the restaurant have a clear picture, but when you leave a tip on a site like Seamless the money goes to the restaurant. You certainly hope the restaurant is distributing that to the staff, but you don't know for sure.
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deminature 2458 days ago
It's not nebulous, the policies are very clear. Tips 100% go to the driver on every network except Doordash [1].

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tipping-policies-delivery-ser...

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untog 2458 days ago
Interesting, in my experience (in NYC) Seamless and the like absolutely do not employee the delivery drivers. They are employed by the restaurants. Though apparently in some areas they do employ drivers:

https://ny.eater.com/2016/4/14/11433288/seamless-delivery-dr...

In NYC at least my comment is still true. When Seamless does not employ the driver, you do not know where your tip is going.

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dustinmr 2458 days ago
I also don’t particularly know if a restaurant pays tips to their wait staff when I pay a bill with a credit card.
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untog 2458 days ago
Yep. Both good reasons to tip cash.
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shawnz 2458 days ago
Tipping cash doesn't provide any guarantee either. For example mandatory tip pooling is legal in many places.
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