The Road to Rights

Federalism in the United States impedes the realization of human rights. This thesis explains how non-traditional workers are impacted by the inadequacies of the country’s labor legislation, demonstrated through the situation of workers in the gig economy. The gig economy is thriving but the workers are not included in federal labor legislation, and therefore their rights are not protected. States have the power to issue their own rulings on matters concerning the gig economy, but these decisions can vary by state. Using the example of Uber drivers, this paper shows how this discrepancy can result in human rights violations. There needs to be uniformity in the United States' legal system in order for gig workers to claim their rights.