GOP Would Really Like To REPEAL Fair Labor Standards Act. Move To Independent Contractor Labor.

[TheMastersNemesis]

The GOP has always hated the Fair Labor Standards Act because it sets rules for fair labor practices. They want "market based" wage and benefits nation wide. Such action would mean that the minimum wage, overtime pay, contractor rules, 40 hour work week, and all other labor standards would disappear. Workers would lose all federal protection.

That repeal would allow employers to set their wages and benefits based on what ever a person would agree to work for. It would force down wages and eliminate any sense of job stability. And just like I have been saying all along such an environment would make it possible to convert the labor force to a "contract force". It would also make it possible to make just about every job a "task rabbit" or "uber" job.

In such a case the employee would have no "employer of record" and each worker would be a business of one selling their skills to the lowest bidder. Workers would be like an actor or insurance salesperson". They would be forced to move from gig to gig with no idea of their income. They would be an "independent contractor" responsible for their own unemployment insurance, workman's compensation, liability and other employment expenses that the employer pays now including uniforms,tools etc. The employer could dock their pay based on being late in completing work, loss of product during transport, et al. There would be only self funded vacations, health care and retirement. And they would receive only a set price for a job activity of limited duration.

[manicraven]

1. My career field has already been forced in large numbers into "independent contractor" status.

What this means is we work for peanuts, and we do not receive holiday pay, sick pay, vacation pay, retirement plan of any sort, no overtime pay, no insurance plan, and no bonuses. The companies do not even take out our taxes; we must do that. If we are laid off, there's NO unemployment benefits. We even supply all of our own equipment in order to perform the job. This makes us feel extremely vulnerable, and we can't even be sick a day without losing pay. There's no security whatsoever. It's really horrible. The companies will tell us that we can "choose our own schedules," but really, this is often bogus because if we don't work when the work is available, then we earn nothing. Many have left the field, but some of us are too close to retirement and are trying to hang on.

[manicraven]

2. Oh, and you're spot on about penalties for errors, etc.

Many actually fine the independent contractor (IC) for anything that they deem as subpar, and they deliberately will have either confusing requirements or impossible standards that no one can ever achieve consistently. So, when the worker collects their paycheck, it's less than expected as the company "found deficiencies." It's extremely brutal and ruthless. Truthfully, some in this industry have been forced onto food stamps, etc., and one was living out of her car because she'd lost everything. Life as an IC can be hell.

[MiniMe]

3. Companies would like that so they don't have to kick in their portion of SS and Medicare

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. Companies Want Contractors So They Have NO RESPONSIBILITY That Employees Bring.

You can maximize your profits if you treat your labor force as a contingency where you ONLY PAY for the time that an employee is actually in a production mode. So you reduce down time. Retail is a good example of having person on the floor when there are customers there. When they are not being served the workers are off the clock. It is a "piece rate" pay model based on how many customers you serve or how many activities you do that actually produce money or services.

[BSdetect]

5. I've been writing posts about this for fuckin months

When will the Dems start attacking for real?

[TheMastersNemesis]

6. I Have Been Doing The Same Thing For A Year Or More As Well.

I just do not understand why workers do not get what is being done to them. Back in 81 I had some articles about "the employee free corporation" that predicted that future work would be contract and contingency work. That the traditional job would become extinct in the 21st century. Now I am seeing it come to pass.

The worker has been lulled into thinking that job security is an anachronism that has to go. That every one should be a business of one. They talk about "freedom". Listen to what is being said about Uber and like jobs. You will be free to sell your services, rent out your tools, rent out your home etc etc.

You will be free to have multiple careers and NOT BE TIED DOWN to one job for a long period of time. You will have flexibility to work when you want. You can schedule your time off. Right.