'I don't have to be there at a certain time': Gig workers praise flexibility

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Brian Raskin, an Uber driver who likes the flexibility in hours. | File Photo

Sponsored Content -- Uber drivers, in general, say they prefer driving for Uber as compared to working other gig economy jobs for a variety of reasons. 

For some it is the flexibility, others the higher income, the ease of the job, or more time for family. 

"How did they compare? I don't have to be there at a certain time," said Brian Raskin, a part-time Uber driver from the suburbs of New York City. "They had to be there at a certain time. I had to be on time. I had to have a schedule. I had to work a certain amount of days, someone hanging over my shoulder. You know, I already have someone hanging over my shoulder every day, you know, at my regular job. I don't need, I don't need two bosses. Oh, this is great. I get to work at my own pace."

According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 36% of U.S. workers are doing gig work in some capacity. Gallup also reported that 64% of gig workers said they preferred their alternative work arrangement. "Independent gig workers (such as online platform workers and independent contractors) experience high levels of work-life balance, flexibility, autonomy, meaningful feedback and creative freedom. In fact, they score much higher on all these factors compared with traditional workers and other types of gig workers," the 2018 Gallup poll stated. 

Raskin, for one, says his flexibility with Uber has made managing his life a little easier. 

"It's you know, my kid has a game tomorrow night, I'm probably gonna go to work Uber late because I can have a football game I gotta go to," he said.

In the Freelancing in America: 2019 survey of 6,000 U.S. workers, 79% of full-time and 76% of part-time freelance workers joined the flexible workforce environment due to having a flexible schedule in working days and hours of their choosing.

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