Uber has announced that the ability to tip drivers will soon be coming to the app. The news comes as a part of the company’s new “180 days of change” initiative, aimed at making the company a happier place for everyone involved.
“We’re making a commitment to you. For the next 180 days (and beyond) we’ll be making meaningful changes to your driving experience. Some changes will be big, some will be small — all will be the changes you’ve asked for. Each month for the next 6 months, we’ll share meaningful changes that will make driving more flexible and less stressful, giving you earnings & support you can depend on.”
Day one of 180 introduced the ability to tip drivers for above-average service. Available now in Houston, Minneapolis, and Seattle, Uber’s tipping service will be implemented across the United States by the end of July. Uber has also announced that drivers will be able to make money while during their downtime by introducing a new pay scale that compensates drivers for the time spent waiting for riders to come outside. After two minutes, drivers will earn a small amount while waiting for their passengers.
All of this is an effort to improve the company’s reputation after a slew of events brought Uber’s name into the news for all of the wrong reasons. On Tuesday, Uber chairman and co-found Garrett Camp penned a long editorial on Medium discussing the company’s plans on moving forward after having its name brought up in the news, most notably for after CEO Travis Kalanick announced he would be taking a leave of absence from the company. Camp writes that the Uber’s quick rise to fame both helped and hurt everyone involved.
“All companies have growing pains. And because Uber grew so fast these growing pains are much more serious,” wrote Camp. “Over the years we have neglected parts of our culture as we have focused on growth. We have failed to build some of the systems that every company needs to scale successfully.”