Gig worker sees the whole .124, which is probably why govt wants more classed as employee.
TANSTAAFL
that extra 6.2% isn't a tax on the employer at all! it is a tax on employment, and it really is part of the employee's taxation (in fact that 2 * 6.2% is a "socialized" part of the employee wage, that fraction of wage goes to the Social Security Administration to be put in a fund used then to pay out retirement pensions). Hiding this fact is the best part of tax: a tax you do not feel is the best kind of tax from the point of view of the tax collector... of course it is the worst kind of tax from the point of view of the taxed entity.
"Gig worker sees the whole .124, which is probably why govt wants more classed as employee." <-- that's right! however one could argue that everyone should see the whole .124 so that they know better how they are taxed (I'm not saying this level is too high, on the contrary I think it's too low, but what irks me is that it is done under the covers...).
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch
Employees are taxed 6.2% by the government, and 6.2% to the Employer.
Gig workers are taxed 12.4% by the government ("self employed" tax). So in US-law, the government gets its money either way.
That's why a "gig-worker in name only" is such an advantage to companies in the USA. It allows companies to cut out 6.2% of its taxes and shove it to the gig-worker instead.