Chicago Uber driver says gig work's 'flexibility works out for me really well'

Future of Work
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Potential Uber drivers can easily sign up on the website, or on the app. | Pixabay/Jackson David

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(Sponsored Content) -- One of the biggest reasons that workers turn to gig work, such as Uber, is the flexibility they have to determine their own work schedules.

The Hamilton Project recently published a report stating that as the post-Great Recession market continues to recover, on-demand gig work offers benefits to workers and the economy by supporting job growth and personal income. According to the report, the gig economy offers flexibility, minimal training costs and low barriers to enter the workforce, allowing workers to supplement their incomes as needed or to create an income for themselves.

Potential Uber drivers can easily sign up on the website, or on the app, and apply to be a driver by creating an account and going through the process. The app also allows for drivers to have control over their availability as needed. 

Dwayne Bell, a part-time Uber driver from Chicago explained the importance of schedule flexibility to him as a gig worker.

"I like the flexibility because life happens, sometimes I may need to just do something else that has nothing to do with Ubering – just taking care of other business," Bell said. "And so I don't have to call off, I don't have to be penalized for taking time off other than the loss of earnings. But to me, that's something that I can accommodate. So yeah, the flexibility works out for me really well."

The first Uber user requested a ride using the app on July 5, 2010, in San Francisco, according to Uber. The next year, the service went global with rides being offered in Paris. In July 2012, Uber began offering ice cream delivery in seven U.S. cities, a precursor to its Uber Eats service, which first became available in 2015 in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.

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