Application Exercise Case 2

Michael Villamizar-Mora

Florida International University

MAN 4301

Professor Faison-Bussey
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CASE STUDY CHAPTER SIX

Case Summary
This case focuses on the worrying security issue that has been caused by Uber, the ride-
sharing application. Its hiring of convicted felons due to lack of background checks has caused
danger to many of its customers and legislation has been slow to address this issue due to the
massive amount of lobbying occurring.

Case Analysis
This case highlights that Uber’s lack of background checks for its driving workforce has
been a cause of over 100 cases of drivers being arrested for murder, sexual assault, or first-
degree assault. Attempts to provide legislation to change this have been fought with massive
lobbying efforts. “Lobbying on steroids” as mentioned by Saika Chen, an attorney specializing in
ride-sharing laws. Despite this, harmed passengers and state law enforcement agencies have
fought back with lawsuits to bring change to the situation. San Francisco and LA District
Attorneys have recently fined Uber over $25 million and Colorado’s Public Utility Service over
$4 million in order to cover damages and bring change to their policies. Besides this, CEO, Travis
Kalanick’s resignation due to pressure from investors following the abundant sexual assault
allegations not only in the vehicles but in the corporate setting as well.

Case Questions

1. It is true that not conducting background checks can save the company lots of money,
but as it can be observed, this has caused a massive backlash due to the inconsistency of
workers that are being hired. Cases of murders, sexual misconduct and assault can be
significantly reduced when there isn’t a workforce that has been convicted of these acts
before and isn’t prone to commit these actions again in the future.
2. As mentioned in the case, taxi and limousine drivers are required to undergo proper and
in many cases extensive background checks to ensure the safety of their passengers.
This is the case with the vast majority of jobs that involve having other people as
passengers of a vehicle, ship or vessel with the employee as the operator.
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CASE STUDY CHAPTER SIX

References

https://prod.reader-ui.prod.mheducation.com/epub/sn_25dda/data-uuid-
87ef2949f94d459fa209cdd7dcdae923