Pay Raise for Food Delivery Workers, No More Mandatory Fun, Tom Hanks A.I. Used Without Permission, and More...

Approximately 60 million independent workers in the United States represent $1.5 trillion in U.S. GDP and growing. Projections estimate that 50% of our U.S. workforce will be independent workers by 2025- 2030. The Gig Economy represents a trend that will digitally transform the future of work.

Every?organization?in?every industry?needs a Gig Economy strategy. Not having one is like missing the internet trend in 1990 or the mobile revolution in 2010.

?The Freelance Revolution

The Industrial Revolution of our time is the rise of independent contractors and the globalization of knowledge work. We can see the U.S. workforce undergoing a massive structural change.?

Unrigging the Gig Economy?- In 2018, Patricia Cris, a house cleaner in California, faced an unsettling incident of sexual harassment at a booking. When she canceled the appointment due to safety concerns, the company she worked for, Handy, penalized her financially. Handy, like other gig economy platforms, has been able to sidestep traditional employee rights by classifying workers as independent contractors. The distinction means these workers lack many benefits and protections, resulting in situations where they might be underpaid, face unsafe working conditions, or experience wage theft or discrimination. A research project named Fairwork has devised a rating system assessing the fairness of treatment by platform companies; its findings suggest a significant discrepancy between the working conditions on digital labor platforms and global standards. In 2020, following a lawsuit for violating California's worker classification law, AB5, Handy agreed to a settlement that has set a precedent on how gig companies should treat their workers.

Judge Affirms Pay Raise for Food Delivery Workers in New York?- A New York judge ruled that the city can raise minimum wages for app-based food delivery workers despite opposition from major delivery platforms Uber, DoorDash, and Grubhub. The new wage regulation mandates these companies to pay gig workers around $18 per hour starting in October, increasing to $20 per hour by 2025, up from the current average of $11 per hour. While the judge ruled against the three major companies, he granted an injunction for Relay, a smaller platform with a different business model, allowing it to continue contesting the wage increase.

22 gig economy statistics for 2023?- The gig economy, characterized by short-term contracts and freelance work facilitated by digital platforms, continues to grow and transform the labor market. Factors like an increasingly mobile workforce, the proliferation of digital platforms, and the impact of COVID-19 have rapidly expanded gig work, with platforms like Airbnb, Uber, and DoorDash connecting customers to gig workers. Despite its prevalence, the gig economy presents challenges such as the need for comprehensive statistics, job security and benefits disparities, and evolving regulatory landscapes.

A.I. Meets Talent: The Age of Generative AI

With the "Big Bang" moment in November 2022, OpenAI's ChatGPT was launched, ushering in a new era of generative A.I., accelerating the fusion of Technology and talent, and presenting challenges and opportunities for individuals and businesses alike.

Tom Hanks alleges dental company used A.I. version of him for ad: 'Beware!!'?- Tom Hanks recently alleged that a dental company utilized an AI-generated version of him in an advertisement without his permission. The incident follows Hanks' comments five months prior about the moral implications of using A.I. to recreate likenesses of actors for posthumous performances. The entertainment industry has been grappling with the ethics and legality of A.I., with discussions across guilds, agencies, and legal firms about intellectual property rights concerning the faces and voices of individuals.

Ex-Apple designer Ive, OpenAI's Altman discuss A.I. hardware -The Information?- Apple's former design chief, Jony Ive, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are reportedly discussing creating a new A.I. hardware device. However, the specifics of the device remain unclear. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has been partially involved in these conversations, but his ongoing role is uncertain. Jony Ive, who played a crucial role in Apple's design innovations, co-founded the design firm LoveFrom after leaving Apple. At the same time, OpenAI has seen significant success and investment due to its A.I. advancements.

A.I./Gig Economy Combination Could Power These ETFs?- Generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) is gaining attention for its potential to enhance the work of freelancers and gig economy workers, creating investment opportunities in exchange-traded funds like Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM). A Morgan Stanley survey revealed that 21% of gig workers believe generative A.I. will increase their incomes, and integrating A.I. with the gig economy could add $400 billion to the economy by 2030. Stocks like Adobe and Amazon, which comprise 7.63% of QQQ and QQQM portfolios, are poised to benefit from this trend, with Amazon notably aiding the development of generative A.I. applications.

The Changing Workplace

We see unprecedented numbers of companies implementing remote work programs. How we work has forever changed and requires new skills and leadership approaches.

Mark Zuckerberg touts potential of remote work in metaverse as Meta threatens employees for violating return-to-office mandate?- Meta recently issued a strict return-to-office mandate, even as CEO Mark Zuckerberg enthusiastically promotes the potential of remote work via advanced V.R. technology. During an interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast, conducted within a virtual-reality space using Meta's developing Technology, Zuckerberg discussed how such immersive tech could bring people closer to feeling physically together despite being miles apart. However, despite once championing remote work, he now joins other tech leaders in expressing reservations about its effectiveness in maintaining company culture and mentorship using today's standard remote work tools.

No more 'mandatory fun': Workers say they've stopped feeling bad about skipping happy hour, even if it comes at the cost of their careers?- A viral post on X (formerly Twitter) has sparked a debate on the impact of declining work-related social invitations on one's career. Many users felt pressured to attend such events to be seen as "team players" and avoid missing out on networking opportunities. However, there's increasing criticism of post-work drinking culture, with many stating it can be exclusionary, especially for those who don't drink for various reasons or can't stay late due to other commitments.

So Much for 'Learn to Code'?- The rise of generative A.I. has begun to challenge computer science majors' previously perceived job security, with tools like ChatGPT assisting in coding tasks. As a result, coders utilize A.I. to expedite routine tasks; in one study, developers finished coding tasks 56% faster with A.I. assistance. While A.I.'s role in programming grows, educators and industry professionals believe the future of computer science may pivot towards conceptual and entrepreneurial thinking, emphasizing the value of identifying patterns and conceptualizing solutions over mere technical proficiency.

How a Four-Day Workweek Actually Works, From the Companies Pulling It Off?- Companies are experimenting with a four-day, 32-hour workweek to boost employee satisfaction and productivity. One example is ThredUp, an online clothing reseller, which transitioned to a four-day week by reducing meetings, prioritizing tasks, and limiting lengthy email exchanges. However, work can sometimes extend into Fridays. While some businesses report happier and more productive employees, others, like certain legal firms and analytical companies, need help compressing a full week of work into just four days and have observed mixed results regarding efficiency.

PAUL ESTES has been at the cutting edge of Technology for over 20 years with leadership roles at Dell, Amazon, Microsoft, MURAL, MagicLeap, and Ally Robotics. He struggled to balance his life with these fast-moving leadership roles, so he hired his first virtual assistant, transforming how he lived and worked. He shares his experience in his best-selling book?Gig Mindset, which helps people and organizations understand that now is the time to address systemic?location bias?and encourage companies to reach beyond their organizational boundaries to engage the world's best minds.??

He is inspired by the work of the late?Leila Janah, author of?Give Work: Reversing Poverty One Job?at a Time, and her quote, "Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not." This inspiration inspired Paul to lead a team of progressive H.R., procurement, and legal trailblazers to launch Microsoft's Gig Economy freelance program.??

Paul is the former host of the?Work on Demand Podcast. Each week, Paul provides insights and perspective to over 100,000 readers of his weekly LinkedIn newsletter, and he frequently shares his insights as a keynote speaker and panelist.