Bill Overview
Title: Worker Flexibility and Choice Act
Description: This bill allows employers to offer prospective workers flexibility arrangements that the individual may voluntarily enter before work begins. Under such an arrangement, a worker generally would not be considered an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Sponsors: Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]
Target Audience
Population: People working under or considering flexible work arrangements
Estimated Size: 70000000
- This bill affects individuals who are working or seeking to work under flexible arrangements.
- Workers entering such agreements will not be classified as employees, hence not protected by certain employee laws.
- Flexibility arrangements might appeal to independent contractors and gig workers.
Reasoning
- The policy is designed to appeal to workers who prioritize flexibility and autonomy over traditional benefits and protections associated with employment, so we focus on gig workers, freelancers, and those in flexible work arrangements.
- We include some individuals who are not significantly impacted to understand the range of effects and ensure that the policy budget constraints reflect realistic distributions.
- Different occupations and demographic factors like age, gender, and location will likely affect how the policy is perceived and its impact.
Simulated Interviews
Freelance Graphic Designer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I value the ability to choose when and where I work, but I'm concerned about missing out on health benefits and job security.
- This policy might help me secure more contracts, as companies are less worried about tax implications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Software Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm contemplating moving into contracting to have more control over work-life balance.
- This policy offers a sense of freedom but lacks security. I'm worried about losing benefits and steady income.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Ride-share Driver (Portland, OR)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having flexibility to set my schedule is crucial for managing personal commitments.
- This policy doesn't change much for me practically, but it could open up more job opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired, part-time consultant (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes it easier to take on occasional work without bureaucracy.
- I enjoy the freedom of not being tied down by employee restrictions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Freelance Writer (Brooklyn, NY)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Working freelance allows me to build my portfolio, but it's financially unstable.
- I like the idea of more flexibility contracts might bring, but need access to affordable healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Full-time non-profit worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have a stable job and I'm not interested in gig work.
- This policy doesn't affect me, as I'm not considering a shift to flexible arrangements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help me reduce overheads by not needing to classify all workers as employees.
- I can offer more flexibility to attract talent, but worry about potential future legal challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Marketing Consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I thrive on variety and freedom in my work life, but the lack of stability can be stressful.
- This policy might make it easier to transition between contracts, but doesn't solve underlying financial insecurity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
App Developer (Denver, CO)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm drawing from savings while building a freelance client base, this transition is nerve-wracking.
- If this policy encourages more businesses to offer flexible deals, it could ease my entry into full-time freelancing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Project Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the job stability and benefits I have, so I'm unlikely to switch to a flexible work arrangement.
- I don't see this policy impacting me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1600000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1900000000)
Year 3: $1650000000 (Low: $1350000000, High: $1950000000)
Year 5: $1700000000 (Low: $1400000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 10: $1800000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $2100000000)
Year 100: $2000000000 (Low: $1700000000, High: $2300000000)
Key Considerations
- Significant reclassification of workers may affect the stability of the labor market.
- The Bill could lead to changes in how businesses operate concerning labor practices.
- There may be significant legal reviews and challenges impacting full implementation.