I lost my job as a corporate trainer when I was on maternity leave with my newborn twins. I was unable to return to work at a traditional job because of the incredibly high child-care costs for three kids, so I started working as an independent contractor from home. During the past four years, I have worked as a direct sales consultant, social media evaluator, transcriber and online teacher of English as a second language.
My independent contractor work has allowed me to put food on my family’s table. I also have a chronic condition with my pelvis that can make long commutes and sitting in an office all day very painful; working remotely has allowed me to have a flexible schedule that my body can handle.
What lawmakers should know: Jobs are not going to magically appear if you restrict independent contractor choices. Instead, you are going to take away the work that I have established for myself.
I depend on this income to help provide for my family. As an independent contractor, I know that I don’t have traditional benefits, but I choose to remain independent because I can create my own schedule and work as much or as little as I please. No big company is exploiting me.
Target the bad actors, not the individuals like me.
Fight For Freelancers NJ 