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Democrat ‘Gig’ Law Punishes California’s Disability Community for Pursuing American Dream
California Democrats’ infamous ‘gig’ law, AB 5, took effect at the beginning of this year, and now thousands of entrepreneurs, including many with disabilities, are now left fighting for their livelihoods. Thanks to their handiwork, it is now more difficult, if not nearly impossible, to work as an independent contractor in the state.
AB 5 isn’t just about gig workers utilizing work platforms like Uber and Lyft. It’s much broader—and much more dangerous.
Workers, entrepreneurs, and job creators in hundreds of occupations—including community theaters, event planning, marketing, and public relations, freelance writing, health care, and many more—have been negatively impacted, losing their careers and much-needed flexibility.
One group particularly hurt by the obstructive California law are individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions who often require flexible work options. These men and women are nearly twice as likely to be self-employed compared to those with no disabilities. And now they’re speaking out.
Tiffany Sanders, a California freelancer, wrote in opposition to AB 5: “I have a chronic medical condition that prevents me from working a traditional job…As an independent contractor, I've been able to earn a solid middle class living around that and raise a child to adulthood without child support. If I can't freelance, my only option will be to hope I can qualify for roughly $1,000/month in [Social Security Disability Insurance].”
AB 5 also impacts those caring for others with disabilities. “My daughter has autism, and being a freelancer means I can schedule appointments, therapies, assessments and even just relaxing downtime with her whenever I want. It also means I can do work that starts at 10:00 am instead of 8:00 am on those days she decides not to sleep until 3:00 am,” says Aimee Benavides, California mother and freelancer.
Consider that 46 percent of freelancers say they cannot work for traditional employers due to personal circumstances, including health issues and caregiving obligations. That’s why flexible work has given people with disabilities, and their caregivers, new opportunities to meet their individual needs. AB 5 severely threatens those opportunities and risks dooming these individuals to lives of government dependency.
https://townhall.com/columnists/greggeorge/2020/03/07/democrat-gig-law-punishes-californias-disability-community-for-pursing-american-dream-n2563607