The state of California has recently passed several controversial bills targeting part-time employees and their companies, generating a huge amount of noise on social media platforms.
Last September, California legislators approved a landmark bill requiring companies such as Uber or Lyft to treat contract workers as employees.
Such a bill would make it obligatory for employees to work a minimum number of hours per week, which makes no sense given that many contract workers have other obligations to take care of in their daily lives. Some even have a full-time job and may just use Uber or Lyft to earn some extra dimes.
Following the success of that bill, legislators took yet another step and passed a bill now aimed at freelance writers. This bill would make freelancers and contributors have to meet a monthly requirement in terms of a minimum number of articles or news pieces in order to remain clean.
The bill tied to freelancers, known as Assembly Bill 5, allows publishers to hire freelance writers, editors, photographers and editorial cartoonists under the condition that they meet the 35 submission yearly requirement imposed by the state of California.
Just like with Uber or Lyft, many freelance writers or media personalities may have worries of their own outside of their commitment to their journalistic employer. Many, for instance, may have bylines with several news outlets, impeding them from reaching such a yearly goal.
The bill derives from the so-called Dynamex decision, which took place back in 2018 as Dynamex Operations West, Inc. was obligated to recognize its freelancers as actual workers.
In light of all the noise and controversy that such passage is creating, the legislator behind it, Democrat Lorena Gonzalez, claims that it is meant to help freelancers reach an affordable lifestyle. In contrast, many who will soon be affected rather view this as a danger to the future of journalism in the state of California. Gonzalez argues that under the current system many do not have a prosperous lifestyle when it comes to expenses and bills.
While legislators in the Golden State took one step forward in making the right choice by allowing NCAA student-athletes to receive benefits from their image and name under the Fair Pay For Play Act, the recent moves taken into action by the state are a major setback in moving forward toward a prosperous future where the workplace can allow a balance between business and being able to satisfy one’s personal goals.
Assembly Bill 5 is set to become effective Jan. 1, 2020, leaving many contractors unsatisfied. Maybe the state of California should think twice about this passage before the new year arrives and put themselves in these journalists’ shoes, as not all jobs allow meeting the family’s needs while holding a nine-to-five office job.
Photo from Pixabay
