So when the coronavirus pandemic came, wiping out in-person business and prompting historic layoffs, such workers were suddenly left more vulnerable than ever. Luckily for many, Congress in March quickly passed a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill that allowed gig-workers and independent contractors to receive unemployment relief.
With only weeks left before these payments end, will there be an extension?
Lets see what is coming out of Texas, Nevada, & Michigan today:
- [TEXAS] “The provision of that federal relief bill is set to expire Dec. 26. Reinke is among more than 315,000 gig workers or independent contractors in Texas who are set to lose their unemployment aid when it does, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, the state agency that administers unemployment aid. In all, more than 619,000 independent contractors in Texas who lost work received benefits under the program Congress created, according to the commission.” [read full article on ABC13 Houston]
- [NEVADA] “A state court judge held the Nevada unemployment office in contempt and gave it until the end of the month to comply with his July court order to resume paying pandemic relief benefits to almost 9,500 out-of-work gig workers and independent contractors. “These people need to be paid,” Washoe County District Court Judge Barry Breslow declared last week as he imposed a $1,000 fine on the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.” [read full article on Insurance Journal]
- [MICHIGAN] “When California voters approved Proposition 22, they sent a clear message to lawmakers: protect flexible work. Many independent contractors breathed a sigh of relief at this victory, which allows some gig economy workers to operate independently, without being reclassified as “employees.” However, the war being waged against independent contractors in California — and across the nation — is far from over. Flexibility motivates an overwhelming majority of independent workers, especially those who must balance other priorities such as caregiving. For them, the freedom of being an independent contractor outweighs the benefits of being an employee.” [read full article on The Detroit News]
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