&gt; According to the administrative law judge who heard the first appeal, Uber has sole discretion over fares, and can charge drivers a cancellation fee if they choose not to take a ride, prohibit drivers from picking up passengers not using the app and suspend or deactivate drivers&#x27; accounts.<p>&gt; The company argues that drivers want independent contractor status because they value the chance to be their own boss.<p>If you are an individual contractor and you have one client, and that client can prevent you from taking others, fine you, put you on probation, and directly intervene in you work while it&#x27;s ongoing, you are not a contractor, you are an employee.<p>This is the reason for labor laws, to prevent companies from taking advantage of employees.  Whether the employees have been tricked into foregoing some of their rights because they think it&#x27;s better due to marketing spin is irrelevant.