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Comment by samstave | Hacker News Reader

What level of equity are Uber and Lyft drivers given in the company? Any?

Are they "earning shares per mile" or anything like that?

If not - then screw both companies, and I hope they do poorly in the IPO -- even though ridesharing is such a wonderful service - I really hope they do right by the literal foundation of their existence, which is the drivers.

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Giving drivers equity in the highly speculative company strikes me as a strange requirement. It may be attractive to some, but irrelevant for others. If I worked for Lyft or Uber I would much prefer any earned money given to me in cash which would let me decide what I want to do with this money: invest in IPO or post-IPO shares, invest elsewhere or spend it on something different. My 2c.

That seems completely unreasonable. Lyft contracts with more than 700k drivers. How in the world could they give each driver a meaningful share of options while also maintaining a controlling interest in the company? Let's also be real here; the supply of drivers is endless. It's about as far from a skill position as one could imagine. Would you be ok with their pay being decreased as well?

> How in the world could they give each driver a meaningful share of options while also maintaining a controlling interest in the company?

Not commenting on the practicality, but when choosing between traditionally cab companies, I preferentially go with ones that are driver/employee owned.

They shouldn't for the same reason that McDonalds doesn't give equity to cows.

That's likely how investors think of the chumps who drive for them, but that doesn't mean that workers shouldn't get an equity stake.

I expect that the average Lyft or Uber driver is much more interested in putting food on the table than engaging in ridiculously-speculative and -risky private-company investing.

How much of their cash compensation should come in the form of stock instead?

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