Posted on 06/24/2015 7:16:40 AM PDT by Perseverando
Whether by economic necessity or by choice, as many as one-third of American workers now find themselves piecing together two, three or more on- demand opportunities to make a living. It's called The Gig Economy, or the Sharing Economy. Yet Washington mostly has remained on the sidelines as the U.S. economy, its workforce and the work place, have undergone perhaps the most dramatic transformation in decades.
Senator Warner, a former business executive, is committed to bringing this conversation to Washington, working with his colleagues, stakeholders, and the growing “gig economy” workforce, to put forward practical solutions to keep up with this fundamental shift in the economy.
In June 2015, Senator Warner delivered the first significant speech of any Washington D.C. policymaker on the potential impact of generational and technological changes on the American economy. Senator Warner’s op-ed “Asking the tough questions on the Gig Economy” ran in the Washington Post on June 19, 2015.
The changing employee-employer dynamic of the “gig economy” poses both opportunities and challenges for the American worker, allowing freedom and flexibility of hours. But many of these on-demand jobs do not provide traditional safety net protections for workers: unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation for injuries, or pension and retirement planning.
Senator Warner is exploring practical solutions like an hour-bank, pioneered by the building trade unions. There are several other public-private models that could be used to manage safety net programs for workers not attached to a traditional full-time employer.
(Excerpt) Read more at warner.senate.gov ...
Now there is a name for the part time job revolution in America - the "gig economy" or "sharing economy."
Oh yeah, let's celebrate one of the greatest achievements of the Obama legacy - part time jobs! Gig jobs: in part the result of the IRS tax code, part Obamacare, part exporting jobs overseas and part the welfare state.
My take on this is Warner is plugging the benefits of part time jobs. Of course he doesn't mention that to marginally survive, people have to have 2 or 3 of them and still there are no benefits.
This is from an email I received from Warner’s office yesterday:
Friends,
I wanted to let you know about a significant issue I’ve started to focus on: the big shifts occurring in the workplace and among the workforce as more and more people work “on-demand” in what’s called the “sharing economy”.
Whether by economic necessity or by choice, as many as one-third of American workers now piece together several on-demand opportunities to make a living. And with continuous advances in technology, that number continues to grow, especially as the Millennial generation enters the workforce.
Today, online platforms such as Airbnb, Uber, TaskRabbit and Etsy can provide easy-to-use digital platforms to match supply and demand for goods and services. These innovations are changing the traditional employee-employer dynamic.
The sharing or on-demand economy, where people are contract or freelance workers, provides exciting opportunities in terms of freedom and flexibility in hours and work-life balance. But many of these on-demand jobs do not provide traditional safety net protections for workers: unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation for injuries, or pension and retirement planning.
Yet Washington has mostly remained on the sidelines as the U.S. economy, its workforce and the work place, have undergone perhaps the most dramatic transformation in decades. As policymakers, we have a role to play with this tremendous shift.
Earlier this month, I delivered a speech about the potential impacts of generational and technological changes on the American economy. My recent op-ed in the Washington Post explored some ways that policymakers might begin to address these challenges.
Finally, as I work to find solutions to make this sharing or on-demand economy work better for more people, I’d like to hear from you. If you are working in this on-demand economy, tell us your story: Is it working for you? Could it work better? What are the advantages of this type of work? Do you see any downsides?
Please email your thoughts to: projects@warner.senate.gov.
Thank you,
Mark R. Warner
Leave it to a Democrat to celebrate the destruction of full time jobs due to their idiotic policies.
You have got be f**king kidding me! They destroy full time jobs, especially by their own Obamacare, and people try to eke out a living in harsh conditions - and they act like they have nothing to do with it!
The inherent bias of a politician. How about the option that Washington stay on the sidelines and just let the market work its ways? Message to DC: Leave us alone!
Yeah.. thanks, Sen. Kneepads for your astute observations. The policies of the “_Resident” whose agenda you so slavishly serve are the primary cause of this shift to a “gig” economy.
ESAD, acolyte.
“Yet Washington has mostly remained on the sidelines as the U.S. economy, its workforce and the work place, have undergone perhaps the most dramatic transformation in decades. As policymakers, we have a role to play with this tremendous shift.”
I think Washington has done enough meddling in the “economy” up until this point.
At least Bush’s ‘McJobs’ were full time.
Agree. It took awhile after 911, but the economy was great during Bush. Its been ghetto since his predecessor took over.
Agree. It took awhile after 911, but the economy was great during Bush. Its been ghetto since his replacement took over.
In my not so humble opinion, he’s looking for another opportunity to rip off as many Americans as possible.
Politicians just get dumber and dumber.
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