'in Order To Make A Living I Must Put Myself And My Community In Danger': Uber Drivers Say The Company's Inconsistent Sick Pay P

Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images Uber drivers have told Business Insider the company's restrictive and inconsistent coronavirus sick pay policy is forcing them to choose between their health and their bank accounts. Public health officials have instructed older Americans, those with serious underlying health conditions, and people experiencing common coronavirus symptoms to stay home to avoid catching or spreading the disease. But Uber has refused to pay drivers facing those circumstances, even as it deactivates their accounts in an apparent acknowledgement of the risk they may pose to passengers. By denying sick pay to those most at risk of spreading or developing serious infections from COVID-19, drivers say Uber is discouraging them from following public health guidelines even if they're sick. An Uber spokeswoman told Business Insider the company made mistakes in rolling out the policy and that it's working to improve the policy and process for receiving compensation. "We have paid more than $3 million in financial support to drivers and delivery people in the US," the spokeswomen said. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Uber's restrictive coronavirus sick pay policy is putting many drivers in a bind: tell the company that they're at higher risk of catching or spreading the virus and lose their main source of income — or continue driving and potentially put others at risk. In early March, Uber announced a financial assistance program, effectively a sick pay policy, that promised up to 14 days of compensation to drivers diagnosed with COVID-19 or told by a public health agency to self-quarantine.See the rest of the story at Business InsiderNOW WATCH: 8 weird robots NASA wants to send to spaceSee Also:Uber says it has paid out $3 million to drivers and delivery workers in the US through its coronavirus sick pay programAmazon may fire employees who violate social distancing guidelines, even as workers say the company isn't doing enough to protect them from the coronavirusA Florida lab is using self-driving vans to ferry coronavirus testsSEE ALSO: Uber says it has paid out $3 million to drivers and delivery workers in the US through its coronavirus sick pay program