You've read our thoughts on the PRO Act thanks to the great work of writer Jen Singer. In sum, it's bad for freelancers and could potentially cost many of us our freelance careers. But don't take just our word for it, check out Forbes' round up of freelancers and their opinions on the act.
One thing Forbes points out is that the act won't necessarily put a stop to the entire freelance economy as this economy is global and freelancers across the globe could still find work. However, it will have a significant affect on the way companies in the United States go about working with freelancers and independent workers of all kinds. "The impact is that increased misclassification risk will likely shift companies from working directly with freelancers to companies working through intermediaries, typically freelance platforms."
The impact is that increased misclassification risk will likely shift companies from working directly with freelancers to companies working through intermediaries, typically freelance platforms.
One significant factor that some seem to ignore when they talk about the positives of the PRO Act is the portion of the population that will be hurt most by this shift: women.
Michelle Jackson is one woman who Forbes quotes in this piece. Her quote is illuminating, "I’m one of the hundreds and thousands of Black women who would prefer to go it on their own."
She then expands on what it is about freelancing that is so appealing to her.
Entrepreneurship has allowed me to lean into what I got penalized for in corporate. I love that I’m not in a forced paternalistic relationship with an organization that I don’t want to be a permanent employee of…because I don’t want to be an employee.
There are numerous other freelancers quoted in the piece and you should definitely read each of other opinions to see why they all say #NoToProAct. Shout out to Matthew Mottola at Forbes for this excellent piece.
