The nature of work has changed, and employment law hasn’t caught up. Here’s what you need to know about balancing the risks and benefits

Whether it’s for iTunes or another service, most of us have scrolled past the terms and conditions to click the box that says “I agree”. But when that fine print is attached to your employment, clicking “I agree” could leave you vulnerable.

That’s according to Dr. Supriya Routh, a labour and employment law researcher at UBC’s Peter A. Allard School of Law. “Most people don’t read the enormous contracts,” he notes. Or, they may read part of it but miss “important clauses that are hidden towards the end”. Awareness of potential gaps in worker protection is key. “You need to evaluate whether it’s worth the risk to you or not,” he says.

As the gig economy grows and work like app-based ride hailing and delivery services are brokered through online platforms, workers are signing blanket, non-negotiable contracts. In doing so, they may be incorrectly classified as independent contractors, assuming additional risks and liabilities. And until employment standards are changed—or the contracts are challenged in court—workers may be less protected against things such as job loss, injury, discrimination, harassment and liability than they might think.

New world of work

People take on gig work for many reasons, including wanting to supplement their income or work flexible hours. About 250,000 Canadians provided ride or delivery services through apps...

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