Uber will no longer force riders, drivers, and employees who claim sexual assault and harassment into anonymous arbitration.
Survivors used to have to sign confidentiality agreements and arbitrate their claims, but they will now be able to further cases through mediation or a public lawsuit, the ride-hailing company announced Tuesday. It's just one piece of Uber's new push to combat sexual assault and other safety concerns.
Beyond allowing greater freedom in reporting incidents, Uber will also start publishing a safety transparency report that details sexual assault and other issues that happen on Uber's watch. The company hopes the new initiatives will go toward maintaining users' trust and regaining riders that have ditched Uber, per the announcement.
In the past year, Uber says it has also strengthened driver and vehicle screenings and rolled out a feature allowing riders to share live drive details with trusted contacts. An emergency button that transmits a car's location to 911 services is on its way.
Considering Uber's shaky past decisions, this seems like the right way to roll. Read more about the new initiatives here.