Yosef, an independent freelance network marketer and user on X, said Uber’s model demonstrates how businesses succeed by offering flexibility and autonomy to workers.
“Flexibility as Value,” said . “Uber gave drivers freedom—work when you want, turn it off when you want. Lesson: Modern businesses that succeed often give people control and autonomy (gig economy, freelancing, online platforms).”
Flexibility and autonomy in the gig economy remain contested, particularly in debates around Uber. According to Politico, California reached a 2025 agreement allowing Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize while maintaining their contractor status. Supporters claim this preserves scheduling freedom, while critics argue it shows drivers need collective bargaining to counter app-based control. The case reflects the larger national tension between promises of worker independence and the realities of platform oversight.
Uber’s driver base shows significant reliance on part-time work and scheduling flexibility. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research involving over 260,000 drivers found that 51 percent of regular drivers logged 12 or fewer hours per week, while only 9 percent worked more than 40 hours weekly. The study found drivers frequently adjusted their hours week to week, demonstrating one of the program’s central attractions—temporal autonomy.
Research comparing Uber drivers to traditional workers highlights how flexibility impacts satisfaction. According to Economic Policy, a UK survey revealed Uber drivers reported higher life satisfaction than both employed and self-employed workers, despite generally earning less. Researchers attributed this partly to drivers’ ability to choose their schedules and tasks, showing that control over work time can outweigh some financial drawbacks.
