I concurred with UltraVires posts #13 and #17. The argument I used to get there is different, though.
I’m just trying to imagine the scenario where I can’t work something out. The only thing I can think of is, the guy is in such deep shit that I couldn’t help him if I wanted to, like he’s going to have to declare bankruptcy no matter whether I pay him or not, or maybe he’s a lazy asshole. Otherwise if times are tough, unless I’m also running deep red, we could work something out.
Gig worker: “Max, I’m sick with [insert infectious disease].”
Me: “Ah, that sucks. Rest up and let me know as soon as you’re doing better.”
Gig worker: “Actually, I really need to work. I can’t afford to take time off.”
Me: “I’m sorry guy, but you know I can’t let you come in like that. (If it’s okay with bossman) I might be able to work out an interest-free advance of $X, and we can take it out of your next couple jobs with us.”
Gig worker: “I can’t accept Max, with finances how they are I can’t afford to repay the loan.”
Me: “I have some odd jobs, too. When you’re feeling better you can come in and help me sort our record rooms. We could probably knock it out in six or seven hours. The parking lot is also due for ant-killer, and you could power-wash the building.”
Gig worker: “I’m really sorry, but I have like ten other jobs and a ton of existing commitments, I don’t think I’ll be able to set aside enough much time.”
Me: “We can try and break it up over a few days. It doesn’t have to be all at once.”
Gig worker: “No, I don’t think even that would work out. My schedule is really tight.”
Me: “That’s too bad, don’t you have any time off? We could work something out.”
Gig worker: “Unfortunately, not except late late at night, after about 11PM.”
Me: “Yeah, I can’t do that.”
Gig worker: “Would you maybe be able to pay for sick time?”
Me: “No can do. I don’t even offer sick pay for our part-time employees, and… technically you aren’t an employee.”
Gig worker: “Come on, man! It’s not my fault I caught [insert infectious disease]!”
Me: “I’m sorry but I can’t pay you if you aren’t working. I know it sucks-”
Gig worker: “It more than sucks, I can’t afford to miss work. I’m going to lose my house, because you have no sympathy for the sick!”
Me: “Of course we care about the sick, this is a doctor’s office, you know! But we don’t treat [insert infectious disease], and I can’t risk exposing our patients to that.”
Gig worker: “Do you expect me to have $X lying around just in case I get sick?”
Me: “No, I expect you to die, Mr. Bond. Seriously, your personal finances are none of my business.
Look, I’m sorry I can’t help you. I tried. Call me back when you’re feeling better, before you say something that can’t be taken back.”
[click]
Oh, so you’re only talking about those on-demand apps, not classifieds or eg: Angie’s List. Good that you pointed this out to me, because I had always considered the latter to be part of the “gig economy”.
Look, even with the apps like Uber, nobody is forcing you to take the sucky routes. If you can’t make it doing that sort of work, all I can say is that maybe you shouldn’t be doing that sort of work. If the gig worker isn’t able to negotiate, if it’s some sort of “here’s the job, take it or leave it” sort of thing, that means there’s a middleman between the person paying and the person providing the service. I’m willing to regulate the middleman - you have to have an estimated number of hours and material costs (route time + gasoline + etc), and you are on the hook for paying at least the minimum wage plus cost. Or, if someone spends more than X hours doing jobs through you, that makes them an employee and you have to provide health insurance.
~Max