The Gig Is Up – Coronavirus Pulls Back The Curtain On The Independent Contractor Epidemic

Executive Summary

Despite the failures of those in government to include gig workers in social safety net protections, recent polling conducted by Data for Progress shows that voters support extending to gig workers the same job benefits and protections that employees enjoy by a 44-percentage-point margin (62% support, 18% oppose). Voter support for gig workers spanned all political parties and a multitude of issues:

• 62%, including 59% of Republicans, support gig workers receiving the same job protections and benefits as employees.
• 56%, including 51% of Republicans, support providing gig workers with paid sick leave and paid family leave on par with those provided employees.
• 64%, including 59% of Republicans, support providing gig workers with the same minimum wage protections provided to employees.
• 65%, including 59% of Republicans, support requiring that gig workers be included in the workers compensation insurance system so they are covered if they are injured on the job, including getting infected with coronavirus while performing essential functions.