How Franchise Restaurants Opened the Door to the Gig Economy

The Odd Lots podcast examines how the franchise model in fast food, which exploded in the 1950s, shaped modern employment. Brian Callaci, author of 'Chains of Command,' explains how franchise contracts allow companies to dictate every aspect of an operator's business while avoiding legal responsibility as an employer. This legal framework later enabled the gig economy, with Uber drivers classified as independent contractors under similar logic. The episode also explores how franchises were early adopters of worker surveillance.