Platform workers—think Uber drivers and freelance designers—exist in a legal gray zone, lacking traditional employee protections while shouldering business risks. A new proposal suggests creating “portable benefits” that follow workers across platforms, funded by companies based on worker activity levels. This system would provide healthcare, retirement savings, and other protections without forcing the square peg of gig work into the round hole of traditional employment law. The approach acknowledges that millions of people now cobble together livelihoods from multiple platforms, requiring fresh thinking about worker rights in our increasingly fragmented economy.
Shaping the Future of Digital Work: A Bold Proposal for Platform Worker Rights