Bloomberg Law
March 26, 2020, 11:00 PM UTC

New York Gig Workers Win Right to Unemployment Benefits

Erik Larson
Erik Larson
Bloomberg News

New York <-bsp-bb-link state="{"bbHref":"bbg://securities/0132690Z%20US%20Equity","_id":"00000171-1920-d981-a97d-fb32a9ac0000","_type":"0000016b-944a-dc2b-ab6b-d57ba1cc0000"}">Postmates food delivery drivers and potentially thousands of other gig workers can receive unemployment benefits at a time of historic job losses, following a ruling by the state’s highest court that they are company employees.

The New York Court of Appeals said Thursday that Postmates “could not operate” without its couriers, rejecting the company’s argument that it simply operates a platform connecting drivers to customers.

“Today’s decision is a huge victory for thousands of gig workers across New York,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “The courts have solidified what we all have known for a ...

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