Wide support for employment protections for app-based workers: poll

A poll conducted by Research Co. for the BC Federation of Labour shows overwhelming support among British Columbians for ensuring app-based gig workers receive basic employment protections.

Conducted between April 15–17, the poll found:

  • Nearly three-in-four British Columbians (74%) believe workers for companies like Uber and DoorDash “definitely” or “probably” should be covered by protections like the minimum wage, overtime pay, paid sick days and workers’ compensation.
  • An even higher number, 80%, believe these companies should pay into programs such as workers’ compensation, the employer health tax, employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan, the same way other employers have to.
  • Only 28% of respondents support paying workers only for the time they spend actively transporting a customer or making a delivery — the position the companies are lobbying for. Support for paying workers for all the time they spend working outnumbers them nearly two to one.

“With every one of these questions, the strongest support comes from the same group most likely to be customers: young adults,” said BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore.

“There’s no ambiguity in these results. It’s time the BC government took the actions needed to ensure app-based gig workers get the same protections the rest of us count on.”

 

The sample comes from an online panel. The Research Co. poll contacted 807 adult residents of British Columbia, weighting results for age, gender and region. The results have a margin of error of ± 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.

Background: Research Co. research factum for survey conducted April 15–17, 2023

 

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