Two New Polls Find Arizona App-Based Workers and Voters of Both Parties Overwhelmingly Oppose Reclassifying Independent Workers as Employees
New research finds the vast majority of Arizona app-based workers would lose their incomes if they lost flexibility
WASHINGTON (June 24, 2022) – The App-Based Work Alliance, a coalition representing millions of workers nationwide choosing independent work, today released new polling that found that app-based workers in Arizona overwhelmingly say they would have to stop driving and delivering if they were reclassified as an employee. This new survey builds off a May 2021 poll of Arizona voters that found more than 71 percent of Arizona voters prefer keeping app-based workers classified as independent contractors, including the majorities of both Democratic and Republican voters.
Nearly 90 percent of Arizona app-based drivers support a policy solution that protects worker flexibility and adds benefits and protections for drivers, a model that would allow these workers to continue being independent contractors while creating statewide mandatory protections and benefits that app-based platforms must provide.
“The data is clear: app-based workers themselves and voters across the political spectrum in Arizona overwhelmingly support keeping app-based workers classified as independent contractors with access to benefits rather than reclassifying them as employees with rigid schedules,” said App-Based Work Alliance spokeswoman Whitney Mitchell Brennan. “The vast majority of app-based workers choose independent work because they need the flexibility it provides. We urge Senators Sinema and Kelly to listen to their constituents and the tens of thousands of app-based workers in their state and fight for modern policies that provide these workers with an ‘independence plus benefits’ model that protects their flexibility while offering them important protections.”
The poll of Arizona app-based workers was conducted by Global Strategy Group between May 19th and May 26th among app-based workers in Arizona. A link to the full polling memo may be found here. Notable findings within the poll include:
More than 90 percent of app-based workers in Arizona said that they wouldn’t be able to continue driving if they didn’t have the flexibility they already have.
More than 70 percent of workers would not support a measure to reclassify drivers as employees, including 69 percent of workers of color.
The vast majority - 87 percent - of Arizona workers overwhelmingly support a policy solution that protects worker flexibility and adds benefits and protections for drivers
88 percent of workers of color and 88 percent of women workers support the alternative policy
Just 11 percent of workers say that working for an app-based platform is their only line of work.
This data is consistent with other surveys on app-based work conducted in states across the country. In poll after poll, workers and voters alike overwhelmingly say they support solutions that allow app-based workers to maintain their independence and flexibility while giving them benefits and protections.