Lyft is unveiling a new education program for drivers, offering access to discounted GED and college courses online, NPR reports.
The move is an interesting experiment in the gig economy, where a growing class of workers receive zero benefits from a boss and yet competition for their time is fierce. Many Lyft drivers see their work for the company as a stopgap measure, a flexible way to make money while they try to build a career.
Shanae Watkins, a driver based in Baltimore, would like to become a social worker. She is currently working on her bachelor’s in psychology through online classes.
“It’s better that way with my kids,” she says. “I can drive or study while still being present at home when they need me.”
That is the bet that Lyft is making in this new pilot program with Guild Education. The Denver-based startup connects workers to courses provided by nonprofit online schools. Lyft drivers will receive tuition discounts ranging from 5% to 20% and, according to the company, the average driver working with Guild to earn a degree can save up to $4,220 per year.
