Gig economy

It took a pandemic for America’s army of gig workers to win access to some of the social protections that regular employees enjoy. Now they’re about to lose it again.

As gig and contingent workers increase, PRO Unlimited seeks to give companies the flexibility to provide these workers the same benefits as full-time employees

Remote work has made it possible for full-time employees to have a side gig during the pandemic.

Instacart plans to terminate about 1,900 employees’ jobs, including the only unionized positions in the U.S., representing a fulsome embrace of the gig economy.

Through the partnership, employers can offer health, dental and vision benefits to contract employees through their credit cards.

Uber and Lyft were ordered to convert their California drivers from independent contractors to employees with benefits but the ruling won’t be the last word, as the companies vowed to appeal the preliminary injunction.

Since efforts to the contain COVID-19 pandemic rapidly shut down the U.S. economy in mid-March, about 38.6 million initial unemployment insurance claims have been filed under state programs.

Postmates began developing autonomous delivery robots in 2017, and now fleet operators have transitioned to operating them from home.

Joblessness now stands at the most since the Great Depression era of the 1930s after the coronavirus pandemic brought the U.S. economy to a standstill.

With governments bracing for economic contractions and joblessness not seen since the Great Depression, more of them are doling out part of their $8 trillion-plus stimulus to prop up the gig economy.