Re:The Challenges of Being in the New Contract Workforce
by DoreenMichele on Tuesday January 23, 2018 @03:38PM
(#16217431)
I am not a developer. I don't make a lot of money. I wouldn't say I am happy with my situation.
But, I am medically handicapped. When I had a corporate job, I lived in fear of losing my job for taking too much time off. My life revolved around getting myself together enough to make it to work 5 days a week.
I don't have those issues anymore. I can take time off at will and resume working when I feel better. My access to paid work is not threatened by that.
My income is portable. This has allowed me to repeatedly move to improve my quality of life. Historically, this was a luxury enjoyed by only the jet set and well off retirees, not working stiffs.
I think we need to provide national healthcare in the US to make the lack of benefits less of a problem. But I think if gig work is well designed, it can raise quality of life for ordinary people.
I wish my life were easier. I am really grumpy about it not being easier. But gig work is a viable solution for me under circumstances where most normal jobs simply are not. This has helped make it possible to make headway on my problems when I should simply be doomed with no real hope.
So I think we need to just focus on making gig work a positive. I don't think it is a given that it has to be a terrible experience, even for people who aren't making tons of money.
But, I am medically handicapped. When I had a corporate job, I lived in fear of losing my job for taking too much time off. My life revolved around getting myself together enough to make it to work 5 days a week.
I don't have those issues anymore. I can take time off at will and resume working when I feel better. My access to paid work is not threatened by that.
My income is portable. This has allowed me to repeatedly move to improve my quality of life. Historically, this was a luxury enjoyed by only the jet set and well off retirees, not working stiffs.
I think we need to provide national healthcare in the US to make the lack of benefits less of a problem. But I think if gig work is well designed, it can raise quality of life for ordinary people.
I wish my life were easier. I am really grumpy about it not being easier. But gig work is a viable solution for me under circumstances where most normal jobs simply are not. This has helped make it possible to make headway on my problems when I should simply be doomed with no real hope.
So I think we need to just focus on making gig work a positive. I don't think it is a given that it has to be a terrible experience, even for people who aren't making tons of money.