Uber has , across its 10 - yr history , been the subject of any number of public scandals — fromworkplace sexual harassmentanddata privacytolabor strikesand multitudinous other controversies . But thanks to a forthcoming book on the beleaguered company , employee had a chance to reminisce about one some of us may not remember : its sketchy - ass Safe Rides Fee .
This especial public relations fiasco — one related to a policy the company initially announced in 2014 — was resurfaced this week good manners anarticle adaptedfrom Super Pumped : The Battle for Uber , a extroverted Holy Writ from New York Times newsman Mike Isaac , who spoke with employee who work on the project .
“ We boosted our margins saying our rides were safer , ” a former employee tell Isaac last year as he was researching his book . “ It was obscene . ”
Photo: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez (Getty)
At the time , and following a wave of customer complaints about the service , Uber said it would tack on a $ 1Safe Rides Feeto uberX fare . The fee — the ship’s company said in ablog postthat ’s since go away from its website — would cover price related to its ongoing feat to improve the condom of its inspection and repair , let in “ an manufacture - chair background check process , even motor fomite checks , driver safety Department of Education , current and future development of safety features in the app , and policy . ”
That piddling “ fee ” for “ safety”—whichBloombergreported jump to as high as $ 2.50 in some country — is said to have give nearly half a billion dollars for the company . However , aclass - action lawsuitagainst Uber later say that despite the charge to its riders , “ Uber ’s background signal check procedures and safety machine measures are lamentably inadequate and flow well short of what is required for other commercial supplier of transport . ”
An Uber spokesperson did not straightaway come back a asking for comment about the Times report . However , the company eventually reached a colony of around $ 30 million over Uber ’s claims regarding safety . But to think — thenalltheothershit happened . It ’s almost like technical school companies learn virtually nothing every time they ’re caught with their pants down .
This fiasco is just a drop in a very large bucket wedge - full of Uber contention , and a salient reminder that Uber was — and arguablycontinues to be — exactly as bad as you suspected .
gig economyUber
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and civilisation news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
Please select your desire newssheet and submit your email to upgrade your inbox .
You May Also Like
