New Jersey seeks $640M from Uber for misclassifying workers
New Jersey is seeking more than $640 million from Uber in taxes and penalties, saying the ride-hailing company misclassified its drivers as independent contractors.
The decision by New Jersey's labor department is the latest in a string of developments as governments around the country grapple with how to classify workers in the so-called gig economy.
Companies such as Uber and Lyft rely heavily on contract labor to deliver the services at the heart of their popular apps. But worker advocates say that hurts the laborers and the states where they live, which miss out on tax revenues.
The state's decision was first reported Thursday by Bloomberg Law. Uber disputed the state's findings.
New Jersey has among the strictest tests for determining whether a worker qualifies as an independent contractor.
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