How the Gig Economy is Threatening Workers’ Compensation
What is the gig economy? Unlike the conventional workforce – which is composed of rigid schedules and protective mandates – the gig economy is far more flexible for workers and employers. However, this flexibility has many law firms concerned about the future of the workers’ compensation system.
The gig economy includes independent contractor positions, which are attractive to many of today’s young workers. You may have seen job ads that read, “Want to work for yourself?” While that may sound appealing, independent contractors aren’t considered employees. This means in the event of a job-related injury, gig economy workers aren’t eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
In a podcast interview hosted by Judson Pierce (an attorney at Pierce, Pierce & Napolitano in Salem, MA), attorney Ryan Benharris discusses the growing popularity of the gig economy and how Millennials are entering the workforce in vast numbers.
In a presentation titled How Millennials are Changing the Face of Workers’ Compensation: The Consequences of the Gig Economy and the Young Working Class, which was presented at the Workers’ Injury and Law Advocacy Group annual convention in Las Vegas, attorney Benharris explained how employers are taking advantage of loopholes to avoid paying workers’ compensation.
“The average gig economy employees don’t even know if they’re covered under workers’ compensation policy,” Benharris said, adding, “Workers’ compensation at its core is a social justice program. And we’re supposed to be out there protecting injured workers, protecting the rights of injured workers. And for these gig economy companies to have come up with something that they think is a golden loophole to get away from protecting their workers, that’s really wrong.”
If you were injured on the job, contact The Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl to learn about the implications of workers’ compensation and who is covered.
Listen to the interview below: