The growth of this sector is piquing the interest of investors, entrepreneurs, economists and academics alike. In fact, a New York Times story noted criticism of how, in exchange for freedom and flexibility, these new marketplaces have led to uncertainty for service workers because of ever-changing technology platforms, lack of employment stability and benefits, low wages, and no safety net for ongoing employment. And yet, so many people have opted to join the uncollared service workforce. In fact, within the next couple of years, the uncollared workforce will include more than one million full and part-time workers, according to our analysis. And this workforce is growing quickly. While there are still challenges and questions to be answered, nevertheless, uncollared jobs offer control and cash that translates into opportunity for many. Critics say that the uncollared jobs are simply new way of taking bad jobs and making them worse, by stripping out benefits and other job security measures. Will uncollared jobs provide benefits? This is a bigger issue than just a new type of worker. Today’s debate about marketplace companies resembles the discussion about the shift in pensions about a generation ago. People used to get defined-benefits, where the employer absorbed the costs and risks of retirement. That evolved into defined-contributions where the worker now absorbs the risk. Healthcare may undergo the same shift. Benefits, like healthcare, insurance and retirement plans, are being unbundled from employers. The safety net is eroding for everyone. Gone are the days of a social contract with employers for lifetime employment – it’s an old model it doesn’t exist anymore. This is a secular shift that will impact everyone not just uncollared workers. forbes/sites/valleyvoices/2014/12/02/the-rise-of-the-uncollared-worker-and-the-future-of-the-middle-class/
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:43:51 +0000
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