Introduction
Uber is a ridesharing company that has revolutionized the global transportation sector and expanded quickly in terms of market share and popularity. The business case for diversity by Taylor Cox and Stacy Blake highlights the positive outcomes that can result from changes to Uber’s leadership team. One of the primary benefits of having a diverse leadership team is the ability to make better decisions (Conger, 2020). When leaders come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives, they can provide a more complete view of a problem, and they can make better-informed decisions. Another benefit of diversity is that it can help to increase innovation. Fowler on the other hand was protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion (Fowler, 2017). Fowler was subjected to sexual harassment, which is a form of sex discrimination and is therefore protected under Title VII.
Background
A former Uber engineer named Susan Fowler spoke about her encounters with discrimination and sexual harassment in a blog post. The blog article went viral, inciting resentment among the public and prompting an investigation into the corporate culture (Fowler, 2017). Almost 20 employees were fired due to the probe for inappropriate behavior, including sexual harassment (Lien, 2017). Uber’s culture was also criticized for being aggressive, misogynistic, and sexist. In response, Uber Uber opened an internal inquiry under the direction of former Attorney General Eric Holder. The investigation resulted in recommendations, including enhancing the company’s training programs, diversifying its leadership, and cultivating a more inclusive workplace environment.
Another controversy that has impacted Uber is regulatory issues. These problems harmed Uber’s market share, whereas its competitor, Lyft, increased their market share (della Cava, 2017). The controversial CEO of Uber, Travis Kalanick, who was charged with cultivating a hostile and toxic workplace environment, further tarnished the company’s reputation (Fowler, 2017). As a result, Uber has faced regulatory hurdles in many countries, with some governments accusing the company of operating unlawfully and dodging taxes (Uber, 2017). Taxi drivers have demonstrated against Uber in certain regions, saying they believe the company has an unfair competitive advantage over more established cab services. Uber has also been charged with abusing its drivers by paying them meager earnings and providing no benefits.
Analysis
The gig economy has seen a rise in the number of workers classified as independent contractors, which has raised questions about the impact of this classification on diversity and harassment in the workplace. While there is no easy answer to this question, it is important to consider the potential implications of classifying workers in this way. Independent contractors are not afforded the same legal protections as employees, including the right to file a sexual harassment claim under Title VII.
Recommendations
In order to help prevent sexual harassment incidents such as the one experienced by Fowler from happening in the first place, several strategies should be put in place. Firstly, companies should have clear and comprehensive anti-sexual harassment policies that are communicated to all employees. These policies should outline what constitutes sexual harassment, provide examples of inappropriate behavior, and detail the consequences for engaging in such behavior. Secondly, companies should provide training to all employees on sexual harassment prevention. This training should cover what sexual harassment is, how to recognize it, and how to report it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Uber has been embroiled in several controversies that have severely impacted its business operations. The allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination have tarnished the company’s reputation and reduced sales and market share. The regulatory problems’ increasing costs and litigation expenses have impacted the company’s profitability. In order to address these issues, Uber needs to engage closely with authorities and taxi drivers to address regulatory problems, take aggressive steps to address the concerns of its staff and consumers, and develop creative business plans to boost profitability.
References
Conger, K. (2020). Uber and Lyft Drivers in California Will Remain Contractors, The New York Times. Web.
della Cava, M. (2017). Uber has lost market share to lyft during crisis. USA Today. Web.
Fowler, S. (2017). Reflecting on one very, very strange year at uber. Susan Fowler. Web.
Lien, T. (2017). Uber fires 20 workers after harassment investigation. Los Angeles Times. Web.
Uber (2017). Corporate Website.