Rideshare drivers across the country have been battling for employee classification and the benefits that come with that status. Now, lawsuits against Uber and Lyft are being re-upped with the argument that the coronavirus means judges should act now.

In California, labor attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan filed an emergency complaint against each company. That added to existing cases in Massachusetts on behalf of rideshare drivers. The plaintiffs are asking judges to issue emergency injunctions that would force Uber and Lyft to comply with state employment classification laws. In most cases, this would result in paid sick leave for drivers.

Uber’s new app, Uber Works, launched in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The goal of the app is to connect workers with nearby businesses and expedite the onboarding and payment processes. The app focuses on general labor opportunities and intro-level jobs that don’t require up-front training.

Uber Works is a platform that connects workers with businesses of all sizes. Popular industries include event support, warehouse work, and customer service. Prior to being available in Dallas, the app was only featured in Chicago and Miami. According to The Dallas Morning News, hundreds of workers have completed thousands of shifts using the platform in Chicago since October.

Some Uber drivers and riders have been in dangerous situations where they’ve been unable to call 911 for help. To alleviate this issue and bring peace of mind to rideshare workers and users, Uber launched a new feature allowing app users to text emergencies to 911. When a driver or rider texts 911, they can provide information about the ride, what the situation is, and their current location.

This service is available wherever “Text to 911” has been activated by area 911 officials. So far, this includes counties and cities in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

According to a recent analysis by California state air quality regulators, ridesharing generates more carbon emissions than driving yourself. To combat the problem, the California Air Resources Board is developing the world’s first regulations to reduce the climate impacts of ride-hailing.

It’s estimated there are more than 600,000 ride-hail vehicles in the state, which release 50% more greenhouse gas emissions per passenger mile traveled than the average car. The new regulations will be put in place to reduce traffic and pollution caused by the ridesharing industry.

An Uber driver in Greeley, Colorado canceled a requested Uber ride after learning the passenger had a service dog with him. This is against Uber policy, which contractually obligates drivers to accept riders with service animals.

Will Etherton, who is visually impaired, requests Uber rides to drive him to and from work when his wife isn’t around. In early March 2020, Etherton, his son, and his service dog Java ordered an Uber; however, the ride was denied when the driver showed up.