Federal agencies and state legislatures want to restrict the independent workforce—including freelancers, contractors, and gig workers—by moving to reclassify them as employees. These efforts, far from delivering intended gains, will harm this growing segment of the US labor force. Indeed, these changes might leave many workers with fewer job opportunities altogether.
Instead of restricting independent work, policymakers should provide independent contractors with more desirable options that will allow them to maintain their nontraditional arrangements while accessing work-related benefits. Embracing innovative reforms such as portable benefits —benefits that are not tied to a particular employer—will help both workers and employers seize more opportunities in this evolving economy.
