Hi Mike, I think it’s very clear that I stand much more on the side of employee than contractor, and would have very much agreed with you.
But read this article and see examples of hair salon workers, strippers, and carpenters who benefit much more from being contractors than employees, and think about having to work as an employee in a more exploitative industry where you have to work hourly rather than whenever you want. Sometimes being an employee and having forced hours is more exploitative because you’re being forced to work certain hours.
When I referred to flexibility and freedom, it comes with the ability to set your own hours. That’s something you can’t do with most jobs with employee status if something comes up. There are just certain situations where not being an employee is more advantageous — especially when you’re working multiple jobs. The right to unionize is, in critical — I’m a member of a teacher’s union, and the district tried to pass an unannounced and secretive ordinance that would allow unannounced formal evaluations — which affect whether you keep your job and are paid more. The union stood tall against this ordinance.
