Uber Boss Argues With And Belittles His Own Driver

You'd think that Uber would be able to stay out of the news just for a day, but apparently that may not be possible. Bloomberg released a video showing CEO Travis Kalanick arguing with an Uber driver about the Uber business model. The driver, who had been working for Uber since 2011, complains about how Uber has dropped its prices and squeezed its drivers, saying "you're raising the standards and dropping the prices". Kalanick reacts angrily to the driver's contention that prices have dropped, saying, "Bullshit!". In fact, since 2012, the Uber fees for Uber Black in San Francisco, which includes this driver, have dropped from $4.90 per mile or $1.25 per mile to $3.75 per mile or $0.65 per minute.

Now most HR and management consultants would think this would be an inappropriate way to deal with complaints from your employees. But, then again, the driver isn't an employee to Kalanick. He's a contractor and I guess contractors can be abused.

The real kicker comes when the driver, having claimed that Kalanick's constantly changing policies cost him $97,000 and drove him into bankruptcy, continues to repeat the truth that Uber has lowered the prices. Kalanick again says that's bullshit and gets out of the car saying, "Some people don't like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else. Good luck!" The irony is beyond belief in that statement because if there is one company who never, ever takes "responsibility for their own shit", which is usually illegal, it's Uber.

Kalanick said today that he is ashamed of his actions and admitted he "must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up. This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it." All I can say is the Uber board must be getting ready to throw him over the side, because Kalanick never admits to error, ever.

Uber is a horrible company, run by a horrible man, that exploits and screws the workers that bring it success. Next time, maybe Kalanick should take a Lyft. Take a look a the whole brouhaha. And a shout out to the driver who had the guts to confront Kalanick about what he's done.