Lawmakers aim to get gig workers more benefits. Here's what we know

Industry Trend & Legislation - Gig economy companies like DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft are exploring providing benefits for gig workers [1] - Senator Bill Cassidy introduced a bill to allow companies to offer portable benefits to independent contractors without making them full-time employees [2] - Senators Tim Scott and Rand Paul are also introducing legislation to update labor laws for gig workers and provide health and retirement benefits [4] - Several states are moving bills to allow for portable benefits, including Wisconsin, which passed a bill into law last month [5] Company Initiatives & Perspectives - DoorDash and Lyft have launched pilot programs in various states to offer portable benefits, contributing a fraction of a worker's earnings into a savings account [1] - DoorDash believes federal labor policy needs updating to account for gig workers [2] - DoorDash states current employment law penalizes companies wanting to provide employee-like benefits to independent contractors, risking contractor status [3] Portable Benefits Usage & Impact - A DoorDash pilot program in Pennsylvania found that approximately 33% of Dashers used portable benefits to take time off [3] - Approximately 20% of Dashers in the Pennsylvania pilot program used the funds for emergencies [4] - Dashers who participated in the DoorDash Pennsylvania pilot program earned roughly $400 in portable benefits over a year [4]