In less than 48 hours, Donald Trump will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as America’s 45th president. What’s In store for freelancers under President Trump?
In my most recent blog post, I shared my enthusiasm and pride in the fact that my efforts aided in NYC becoming the first city in the nation to protect independent workers (Freelancers) against nonpayment with the passing of the historic Freelance Isn’t Free Act.
Debbie Irwin pictured in the Freelancers Union’s plea.
The passage of the Act was another first for NYC and a major milestone for the 54 million workers pursuing a new American dream. Jeff Wald, the president and co-founder of Work Market (an online marketplace for businesses to manage independent workers), recently stated that “The only thing preventing employers from hiring more freelance workers is a clear and consistent set of rules.” Whether or not Trump’s presidency does address the freelance community, many of its members are frustrated with the relative lack of acknowledgement and interest it receives from policymakers, especially when compared to the lip service paid to the small business community. Stephane Kasriel, the CEO of Upwork (a global freelancing platform), argues that “These independent businesses are the new ‘small business’ backbone of the U.S. economy,” and adds that “Any president should want to empower this country’s workforce, and as independent work continues to increase, providing more opportunities for the businesses freelancers are creating is key.”
