If a grocery store cashier could punch out an hour into their shift, take a day off on a whim, or switch between 3 different grocery stores depending on which i

If a grocery store cashier could punch out an hour into their shift, take a day off on a whim, or switch between 3 different grocery stores depending on which is paying better, I'd be inclined to agree with you, but you have to admit that gig work is quite different than traditional employer-employee relationships (which is why they're classified as independent contractors in most of the U.S.). They're not paid a salary or hourly; they're paid per gig, and they're under no obligation to accept any gig. True, they're not nearly as empowered as a traditional independent contractor like a plumber who can set his own prices, but they're not as powerless as a traditional employee who has no control over their hours either. They're something in between, and their work should be regulated as such.