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Like global warming, this may be a problem that we are unable to do anything about except adapt. We need to lean into the gig economy, instead of pulling away.

Like global warming, this may be a problem that we are unable to do anything about except adapt. We need to lean into the gig economy, instead of pulling away. What we need are mechanisms to ensure that there's always a constant and steady stream of gigs available for any person to work. Many of these gigs might not be full-time or part-time jobs but rather micro-jobs or micro-tasks, that some entity needs to have completed to fulfill some larger mission, which is irrelevant to the gig worker. The requirements for completing a task could range from simply "Being a human" to "Specialized skills in a specific domain". Profiles for workers could contain all sorts of information that could help them find relevant work quickly and easily, consisting of things like education and trade skills to even body metrics and IQ if necessary. And of course workers can be rated based on previous work history to help them better find future jobs without needing to keep a resume. A worker should not need to get anything more out of their job than payment for services rendered. Healthcare should be handled by the government, and vacation time is handled by whenever the worker doesn't feel like working.

pjonesdotca 9y ago
The major problem I see for the "gig economy" is that as a contract worker one is essentially on their own for things like health insurance and unemployment benefits. While neither are things often talked about on the HN boards, here outside the Valley those become real concerns for employees with families.
- matte_black 9y ago
  Health insurance I agree is a problem that needs to be solved independently from employers. In fact, if we actually manage to solve healthcare at some point in the future the gig economy will only grow more as it will become more feasible to move from employer to employer. Unemployment is best handled by keeping your own savings I'd say, though that's tough for some to grasp in a nation with little financial education.

pjonesdotca 9y ago

The major problem I see for the "gig economy" is that as a contract worker one is essentially on their own for things like health insurance and unemployment benefits. While neither are things often talked about on the HN boards, here outside the Valley those become real concerns for employees with families.

matte_black 9y ago
Health insurance I agree is a problem that needs to be solved independently from employers. In fact, if we actually manage to solve healthcare at some point in the future the gig economy will only grow more as it will become more feasible to move from employer to employer. Unemployment is best handled by keeping your own savings I'd say, though that's tough for some to grasp in a nation with little financial education.