Workers Protesting

California legislators approved a landmark bill on Tuesday that requires companies like Uber and Lyft to treat contract workers as employees, a move that could reshape the gig economy and that adds fuel to a yearslong debate over whether the nature of work has become too insecure.

You can argue this two ways:

1) workers are entitled to certain benefits such as a clean workplace, vacation days, sick days, some version of healthcare (a hot topic on its own), disability coverage, worker’s comp, unemployment insurance coverage, etc.

2) as an independent contractor workers can control their own P&Ls, their own tax returns, have flexible hours, choose their own healthcare plans, pay way lower taxes (because they can deduct practically everything they do as business expenses), be their own bosses, etc.

This should always be a personal choice. Some people just want to work and have everything taken care of for them. Others want the freedom and flexibility of running their own businesses and their own lives. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for this. But one thing is clear. People and businesses should not be forced into working one way or the other by legislation.

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.

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About Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.

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