O'Malley: "Technology can improve workers' lives in 'gig economy''

[elleng]

The same technology that made companies like ridesharing service Uber successful can be used to protect workers in the "gig economy," Martin O'Malley said on Saturday.

The former Maryland governor and Democratic presidential hopeful told an audience at the Des Moines Farmers Market that things like health benefits and sick leave need to be made more "portable" to ensure employees in this new, nontraditional workforce have the same security companies have traditionally offered.

"If people are part of the shared economy, they should also be part of the shared security that comes with playing by the rules and working hard," he said. "I think we need to update our labor laws and make sure peoples' hard work isn't exploited and that they're not made vulnerable by working multiple part-time jobs." . .

Technology is such that there should be ways for us to create portable benefits that follow the person, so that's what we need to figure out," O'Malley said.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/09/26/omalley-technology-can-improve-workers-lives-gig-economy/72896404/

[SusanCalvin]

1. The gig economy sucks

for everyone except rock stars and those who are in it for pocket money. Glad someone gets that.

[Kath1]

2. You are absolutely right about that!

The gig economy does suck! I'm living proof.

[SusanCalvin]

4. The America of my parents (baby boomer)

was where it was at.

Yeah, it needed serious tweaking with regard to women and minorities. But it was definitely proceeding in the right direction until Reagan ran it off the rails.

[Kath1]

5. Right on, sister!

I graduated high school in 1976. Other than the serious tweaking you refer to, things were very cool. Reagan screwed it all up for all us. We are still suffering from his terrible administration.

[zappaman]

3. I look forward to him in the debates.

[oasis]

6. K and r

[MohRokTah]

7. The gig economy has ruined me and my family. eom