As coronavirus ravage Uber Airbnb and other firms, the virus has negatively impacted organizations globally since its outbreak. The virus has also continued to affect several sectors of human lives while forcing people to stay at home. Uber and Airbnb are multinational companies’ coronavirus has hit so hard, as now they face hard times.
Owing to the effect coronavirus has on the globe, Uber and Airbnb currently are recording a drop in operational revenue because of the global pandemic as it has compelled them to seek government stimulus package for their independent contractors that work for them.
Reportedly, top officials of both Uber and Airbnb lobby members of the US Congress to broaden the Fed’s stimulus package to their said partners. Uber’s chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi has been talking to Congress members to see that the Uber core workers enjoy part of the American government’s unemployment benefits.
Airbnb also has not been left out in trying to lobby legislators. Reportedly, all co-founders of the firm have been talking to several members of the congress to make sure their property owners whose tax files are of sole proprietors enjoy from the bailout fund. Also, Airbnb founders have been said to encourage their property owners to reach these congressmen for them to be able to enjoy from the fund.
As the novel Coronavirus ravage Uber Airbnb, the pandemic has taken several twists on both firms apart from pushing their top officers to lobby congress members for their staffs to enjoy government bailout funds. In the same light, Uber’s Head Quarters has been emptied owing to the coronavirus pandemic with workers giving the order to work from home except for certain essential service providers. Although Uber drivers are also classed as essential service providers and are allowed to continue work, however lack of demand has been the order creating a downslide in order.
Airbnb also is experiencing something similar. Data from analytic firm Airdna reveals that booking and revenue recorded by the firm have dropped as it was also reported that Airbnb most likely would postpone their IPO date until things begin to get better.
Uber and Airbnb move towards ensuring their independent contractors get to enjoy government bailout is more of an advocacy call, and show of concern as both firms like other shared economy firms make their money from these independent contractors and not staffs.
With the services these contractors provide, the firms they work for are not responsible for their unemployment benefits, health costs, etc. as these sets of employees are to fend for themselves. However, as coronavirus ravage Uber Airbnb, many Uber drivers have been compelled to stay at home while others have been obliged to compulsory isolation. These pushed Uber, likewise Airbnb, to help their contractors enjoy the government’s bailout fund.
