Massachusetts sues Uber and Lyft for misclassifying drivers as contractors

The general state attorney in Massachusetts has sued Uber and Lyft, alleging that they illegally misclassify their drivers as independent contractors. The attorney asked for the court to rule that drivers should be considered employees under the laws of the state. Moreover, the attorney required an injunction prohibiting both ride-hailing companies to deny any of the protections guaranteed to employees in the state. The legal argument resides on the fact that the companies failed to meet the legal test that allows employers to legally classify workers as contractors. The test requires drivers to be free from the company’s ‘direction and control’ and their work to be outside of the main purpose of the company.