Robin Chase (@RobinChase), founder of Zipcar and a Near Me podcast guest, wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review on who benefits from the peer-to-peer economy. In her article she discusses how the government needs to adapt to this new way of doing business. She says governments need to tie benefits to people and not jobs. In addition, Chase shares some examples of countries who offer national health benefits, free child care and low-cost higher education, and furthermore highlights how freelancers are thriving. Of course, with this type of support, working as a freelancer is less scary. It opens the doors to more opportunities. So, how can the United States work with the peer-to-peer economy?
“The 150-year history of industrial capitalism has led the US (and others) to tie benefits and workplace rules to full-time employment. “Choose the full-time job with benefits!” parents urge their children.”
We need to revise our perspective that success defined as a 9 to 5 job with benefits and a 401k. Our country has pushed this belief on generation after generation. This belief system has resulted in pushing young people to attend college, rack up thousands of debt, to simply end up at a job he or she was never really sure of (with no freedom to discover their true calling).
Right now we are witnessing a revolt against the status quo. Income entrepreneurs are taking their futures into their own hands. Why? Because they are being favored here. Welcomed. Encouraged. It’s okay to have multiple gigs, unique jobs. If you’re making ends meet, go for it. Matter of fact, even better if you’re making ends meet in order to pursue your dreams, like starting your own business or becoming an artist. A 401k, benefits, a house, two cars and 2.5 children are not the norm or goal. Millenials are saying “NO!”. Because let’s be honest, populations are increasing, consumption is out of control, and that “American Dream” is not realistic. (If you cried a little there, I’m sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news.)
"According to Economic Modeling Specialists International, the number of freelance workers in the U.S. grew from 20 million in 2001 to 32 million in 2014. Freelance work now comprises almost 18 percent of all jobs. This trend is expanding explosively."
The U.S.A. is changing. It needs 9 to 5 employees and college grads, but it also needs entrepreneurs and freelancers. So the rules have to change. And to be honest, that’s the only real way for any of this to work. The diversity is the beauty in this because, think about it, if everyone was an Uber or Lyft driver, who would be the riders?
Read the complete Harvard Business Review article here.
