New Uber for Business services look to tackle back-to-work COVID challenges

What's happening: Uber for Business, the ride-sharing firm's enterprise arm, is launching new services today to help companies ensure their staffs can commute safely to work and are well-fed on the job.

• Employee Group Rides will match employees from the same company to commute to work together. 
• Business Charter will allow companies to reserve an exclusive fleet of cars, shuttles and buses for their employees and customers.
• Uber users would request a ride on the app just as they do now, using their corporate, not personal, Uber account.

The demand for commuter services has doubled during the pandemic, Ronnie Gurion, global head of Uber for Business, tells Axios.

• The New York Stock Exchange and Eataly, the Italian food marketplace, are among the companies already using Uber's custom-arranged commute services for their employees.

Lunchtime is also tricky, with many people surveyed saying they feel uncomfortable about going to a restaurant. Company cafeterias are likely no different.

• "Do I want 500 people leaving my workplace to go to a bunch of restaurants at lunchtime?" said Gurion.
• The pandemic has provided an opportunity for Uber for Business to dramatically increase its corporate meal solutions, including expanded Uber Eats offerings in many countries and company-paid Uber Eats vouchers for employees working from home.