Why Is Washington Ignoring the Freelance Economy?
25th September 2010
Apparently, yes. Despite the fact that close to one-third of the country’s workforce is comprised of independent workers, this sizeable chunk of our economy has none of the protections and benefits that “traditional” employees have. Health insurance? No. Unemployment insurance? Nope. Protection from unpaid wages, or race, gender, or age discrimination? Not a chance. We’ve left these 42 million workers out to dry and entirely out of our social support system.
In other words, they aren’t chained to government like the rest of us. Lucky stiffs.
We’re dealing with an outdated employment system – it was built for a workforce from the 1930s, and it no longer works for us today. So as a result, a growing number of working Americans are left with no protections.
Fortunately, we have a government built for the 1930s, as well, so it’s not as bad as it could be — we don’t get all the ‘protections’ we pay for. Although the Obamanation is trying to change that.
And freelancers need to come together and recognize their power in numbers. This group of 42 million holds tremendous potential to influence politics (by demanding better legislation to protect them) and markets (by demanding affordable health insurance). However, without solidarity and a collective desire to create change, without raising their voices and demonstrating their immense economic contributions, independent workers will never be recognized as a “class” that is worth paying attention to. Employers also have a role in the solution. Some, like Time Inc., require that freelancers take a 4% hit on what they are owed if they want to be paid in 25 days, and others “misclassify” staff members as contractors in order to avoid paying their benefits.
Forward, comrades! We have nothing to lose but our chains!
Ponder the fact that somebody actually got paid for this piece of thumbsuckery.