Welcome to the March edition of The Pointer newsletter. In light of the expected hardship that this will foist upon millions of Americans who are independent contractors, Congress has stepped up and introduced measures to repeal the Department of Labor’s independent contracting rules. The Congressional Review Act is an important step in stopping the Biden Administration from destroying flexible work. Meanwhile, America continues to fall lower in the World Happiness Report partially thanks to the state of the economy.
Check out the latest tech, labor, and economic analysis below from Independent Women's Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity.
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What do women want? The F-word. Flexibility. Flexibility expands work choices for women and increases the control they have over their time, labor, and lives.
We often think of flexibility as critical to working mothers, but women at all stages of life depend on flexibility to stay attached to the labor force. Therefore, federal and state policies should protect and encourage the creation of flexible arrangements that meet women’s unique circumstances rather than forcing all women into traditional nine-to-five jobs.
[keep reading]
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 WHAT'S THE POINT
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Here’s Why Bernie Sanders’ 32-Hour Work Week Causes More Problems Than It Solves
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders proposed lowering the work week from 40 hours to 32 hours with no reduction in pay. On a scale of bad ideas, this ranks among the worst because it will reduce our nation’s economy, hobble small businesses, and could backfire on some workers through pink slips and lost opportunity.
It’s Ok for Women To Approach Work (And Home) Differently Than Men
Why are we not celebrating women’s extra efforts in the workplace and at home instead of treating them like victims? The “extra labor” or “unseen labor” of women is a frequent topic of discussion. Whether praising their efforts or bemoaning their necessity, media outlets often recognize the extra work that women do, beyond their specific responsibilities in their jobs.
The Hill | Journalists Need a Shield Against Government Snooping
The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act would establish robust buffers between the government and the free press. More specifically, it would prevent the government from surveilling journalists and forcing the disclosure of confidential sources — a dangerous practice that has become routine over the past few presidential administrations. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year and is now being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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DC Journal | Latinos Dominate the U.S. Gig Economy — Now, They Face Greater Risk of Loss
Independent work is alive and well, but perhaps not for much longer.
That’s because the Department of Labor’s new independent contractor rule would make it harder to be classified as an independent worker. It would likely lead to many of these workers being reclassified as employees or risk losing their livelihoods entirely.
This is terrible news for families and individuals doing their best to make ends meet—often through independent work such as real estate agents, painters, nannies, and website designers.
Half of all immigrants are engaged in independent work. Low barriers to entry allow women, immigrants, younger individuals, and those with lower incomes to make a living through independent work.
For Hispanics, a whopping 50 percent of whom report being independent workers, it’s a gateway to the labor market, earning part-time or full-time income through consulting, delivery services, nursing, ride-sharing, dog-walking — you name it.
[keep reading]
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ON OUR RADAR
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“Women know too well the heavy toll that big government policies place on their lives …This budget reflects a welcome change and an embrace of the important priorities of deregulation, tax cuts, spending restraint, transparency, and accountability that women want from Washington.”
- IWF President Carrie Lukas on the Republican Study Committee’s fiscal year 2025 budget
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Yours in the fight,
Patrice
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