As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to assume the role of Commander in Chief, it’s important to understand policy changes he may implement. One of them is particularly concerning for independent contractors thriving in the age of a fairly robust gig economy, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding.
Before the election, Biden encouraged California voters to vote against Proposition 22, which exempted employers like DoorDash, Lyft, and Uber, from abiding by the regulations in AB5, the bill that required employers to classify their workers as employees rather than independent contractors, making it more difficult for them to work. Biden and Harris supported AB5.
Last year California passed #AB5, affording gig workers protections and benefits like a minimum wage and overtime pay.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 27, 2020
Now, gig economy giants are trying to gut the law and exempt their workers. It's unacceptable.
I urge Californians to vote no on the initiative this November.
Despite Biden’s pleas, Proposition 22 passed overwhelmingly, protecting independent contractors from regulations that would restrict the hours they work. But that doesn’t mean freelancers fears’ are over.
Biden has said he supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act on his campaign website. The PRO Act is similar to California’s AB5 in that it would use the same three-pronged ABC to decide who can be classified as a freelancer and how much they can work, but this is a federal law that would largely obliterate independent contractor jobs and the gig economy.
CNBC reported, “The PRO Act, heavily supported by Democrats, would weaken right-to-work laws in states that let employees opt out of participating in unions and paying union dues. It also gives the National Labor Relations Board the ability to fine companies that retaliate against workers for organizing and give collective bargaining rights to many workers who do not have them now.”
This is unacceptable to a portion of the American economy who chooses to work as an independent contractor and thrives, whether it’s single parents, people who need to make additional income, or people who need to work flexible, random hours because they are caring for an elderly parent, spouse, or children.
CNBC also reported a recent Upwork survey, Freelance Forward 2020, “found that 59 million Americans did some form of freelancing in 2019, up 2 million from the year before.” This means some 59 million Americans, or 1 in 5, do anything from photography, writing, teaching, tutoring, consulting, handyman work, etc.
The gig economy has never been more robust, even as COVID-19 has wiped out jobs by the millions, yet Biden and Harris support laws that will give the government the ability to restrict employment. Americans must unite and fight these policies that will hinder a thriving gig economy and workers’ ability to be creative, flexible, and rewarded for hard work.
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
