Flying under the regulatory radar

Another article – this one in the Boston Globe - examining the uncertain status of people making their living in the sharing economy.

As a driver for Uber or a “tasker” working for TaskRabbit, are you an employee or an independent contractor? The difference is sick leave, health insurance, contribution to your pension..

Here’s a quote:

“If all these start-ups had to hire employees in every city they operate in, their costs would jump — perhaps to the point where they’re not economically viable. And yet if the innovation economy produces companies that have hundreds of thousands of “non-employees” who love the lifestyle, but don’t have unemployment insurance or retirement plans, we’re going to have problems as a state and society”.