Uber has announced a major tightening of its background check process for drivers and couriers in the United States. The move follows a wave of sexual assault lawsuits that led shareholders to sue the company's board of directors and executive officers. Uber says its new policy is the strongest in the industry, expanding the types of criminal convictions that will disqualify individuals from driving or delivering for the platform.
Violent felonies and sex crimes trigger lifetime bans
Under the updated rules, violent felonies including armed robbery, aggravated assault, arson, child abuse and endangerment, strangulation, and stalking will disqualify applicants even if the conviction is more than seven years old. Uber already excludes those convicted of sexual assault, sex crimes involving minors, murder, kidnapping, and terrorism. Additionally, offenses such as DUI, speeding, reckless driving, theft, fraud, property damage, weapons violations, harassment, and violating a protective order will result in disqualification if the conviction occurred within the past seven years. For minor infractions like driving without a license or without insurance, the lookback period is three years.
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Narrow exception for long-time drivers with clean safety records
Uber is making a limited exception for longstanding drivers who have never received serious interpersonal safety complaints. If their felony conviction is older than 15 years and not sexual in nature, they can continue working. The company stated, "We believe this is the right thing to do for drivers who have rebuilt their lives and demonstrated good behavior on and off the Uber platform." This exception applies to approximately 2,000 drivers nationwide.
Lifetime Social Security trace for all drivers
Previously, Uber used a seven-year SSN trace for background checks. Under the new measures, the company will use a 99-year (lifetime) SSN trace for initial screenings and annual re-checks of existing drivers and couriers. According to Bloomberg, these changes are expected to lead to the removal of tens of thousands of drivers, around 0.5% of Uber's US workforce.
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The crackdown follows intense legal pressure. Uber recently paid $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit from a 19-year-old who alleged she was raped by a driver in Arizona. Shareholders have criticized the company's history of insufficient investment in safety. For comparison with other corporate disputes, see the article on Micron criticizing Apple's pricing tactics. More background on Uber's legal challenges is available on Uber's Wikipedia page.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2203130/uber-expands-us-driver-background-checks
