New Cases Highlighting When "Gig Economy" Workers Are Entitled to Employment Rights -

The "gig economy" is characterised by work performed on a short-term/temporary basis, in contrast to more traditional long-term roles. As the "gig economy" has grown, so too has the case law governing the employment rights of those working in that sector. In the UK, these people are either "employees" (i.e., having full employment rights), "workers" (having some employment rights—e.g., not to be discriminated against, the right to vacation and sick pay, and to be paid the minimum wage) or "self-employed" (having very limited rights). Traditionally it was thought that short-term workers were self-employed and as such did not have employment rights. Following an Employment Tribunal decision against Uber in October, though, two cases this year have further clarified the area.