Post on 20-Aug-2015
transcript
Thank you for joining us
Joining us from Freelancers Union:Sara Horowitz Founder & Executive DirectorChristian Skotte Manager of Marketing &
Communications Althea Erickson Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy Rose Auerbach memberJon Pierre memberJenny Troester member
Format: • Introductions• Survey findings• Members’ stories• Questions from the press
America’s New Workforce
Who is the new workforce?
• Freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees, and the self-employed
• 42 million workers, comprising 30% of the workforce
• Predicted to reach 40% by 2019
• Freelancers Union membership has doubled in the last two years
Top issues facing freelancers
1.Not having
enough work
2.Clients whodon’t pay
3.The high cost ofhealth insurance
2009 Survey Respondents
3,155 freelancers responded• From 49 states across the U.S.
• 57% women
• 43% men
• Average age: 45
Unemployment
Independent workers are struggling more than most: • 81% did not have enough work
• 49% experienced periods without any work
• 32% experienced periods where they wanted more work
• 12% relied on some form of government assistance
(doubled since 2007 survey)
But they don’t qualify for unemployment insurance.
Nonpayment
Independent workers are hurt by unpaid wages:
•
40% had trouble
getting paid
• They lost $6,000 on average• They spent 17,000 hours total
pursuing unpaid wages
But they can’t file unpaid wage claims like traditionalworkers.
Health Insurance
Freelancers must buy their own health insurance. The recession forced many to go without.
• 14% went without insurance (up 2% from previous year)• 18% were forced to give it up (up 5%)• 35% cut back their coverage (up 6%)
Currently, individual plans on the market cost 300% morethan group plans.
Recommendations
Modernizing America’s Outdated Safety Net:Building sustainable, innovative solutions to protect workers inthe new economy
• Expand Unemployment Protection
• Expand Worker Protections to Include Independent Workers
• Increase Independent Workers’ Access to Affordable, Portable Benefits
Survey Respondent
“It's a difficult time to be a self-employed American. There's a lot of talk about small independent businesses helping to stimulate the economy, but the government seems to be helping everyone but
us.”
- Jason, freelance art director from Brooklyn
Learn More
For more stories and facts about how America’s outdated safety net is failing the new workforce, click below:
Read the report summary
Read the full report