McDougall, a former Uber driver, in his car on March 27, 2025. Many gig workers see their financial lives upended when their account is suddenly blocked for unclear reasons. — DAVID DEGNER/NYT
Steve McDougall earned about US$900 (RM4,003) a week delivering for Uber Eats and DoorDash, whizzing through the heavy traffic of Gloucester, Massachusetts, on an e-bike. The flexible hours allowed him to tend to his 15-year-old daughter and two parents with disabilities.
“It’s not great money, but it’s freedom,” McDougall, 40, said. “I get to come home a lot during the day. I get to go to my daughter’s softball games, practices, doctor’s appointments – anything I need to.”
