Fluent Essays

I have a rhetoric&research writing course. If you good at it and have time to finish it. Id like to share the whole semester assignment with you.1.Please write a short—i.e, about a 500- or 600-word—introduction of yourself as a writer, reader, researcher, critical thinker, engaged citizen.One possible place to start is to think about specific times in your life—at college or before college, in a class at school or in a non-academic context—when youve gotten excited about writing, reading, or researching something. Reflect a little on these moments of excitement (and again, they dont have to be drawn from an academic context). What was it that made these moments more fun or interesting than other experiences youve had with writing, reading, and researching? Were there particular discoveries that you made about yourself as a writer, reader, or researcher during these moments? Can you quote a specific passage that you wrote or read—or can you describe in detail some research that you did—and explain what made it interesting/exciting for you?Heres another possible prompt: think about a time when youve been moved to learn more about (or even take action with regard to) a particular social or political issue. What was it that made you interested in this particular problem? How did you go about deepening your knowledge of it? Are there political/social issues that youd like to learn more about or get more involved in right now? If so, why? How might you begin to do so?Have there been moments in your life when youve felt like an engaged citizen? If not, why not? What does being engaged in political or civic life mean to you, if anything? Voting in elections? Being part of a club on campus? Volunteering at a soup kitchen? Fighting to expand the rights of immigrants in the US? Something else?What does critical thinking mean to you? Can you give specific examples from your own experience of moments when youve thought critically about something? (Not criticized something—thats not the same thing!) Again, feel free to think about examples that dont come from an academic context....You certainly dont have to respond to all (or even any) of the questions/prompts above. But please try to give specific examples from your past as a writer, reader, researcher, critical thinker, and/or engaged citizen. And if youd like to use multi-modal elements—for instance, audio clips, videos, graphics, screen captures, links, whatever you like—feel free to do so!Here are a few more prompts, in case you werent taken with the questions/suggestions above:When did you recognize a successful writing strategy in your own work, and how did you see it, finally, exemplified on the page? Explain, and give your best example.Have you had success with particular organizing or outlining strategies, or other methods or writing?What specific element of a past writing class do you most value or best remember? For instance, thesis development, appealing to an audience, understanding purpose, recognizing tone? Arguments constructed on logos, pathos or ethos?What is an area you do well at in writing, and what is an area youd like to improve in?2. reading questionRead the Introduction (pp. 1-14) and Chapters 12-13 (pp. 291-323) of Temp, as well as the New York Times (Links to an external site.), LA Review of Books (Links to an external site.), The Nation (Links to an external site.), and Harvard Business Review (Links to an external site.) reviews of Hymans book. Make sure to annotate and take notes on the texts.Now, do your best to answer the questions below in a few (i.e., 3-4) sentences. Youll almost certainly need to re-read certain passages and look up certain terms in order to do this. Also, it will probably be a good idea to mark the passages and note down the page numbers where you found your answers.1) In the Introduction of Temp, Hyman writes that the post-1970 transformation of the American workforce was not a conspiracy of a few, but a consensus of the many (5). What does he mean by this? What were some of the shifts that led to the transformation of work that Hyman is trying to explain?2) What does Hyman mean by the Second Industrious Revolution? How does he compare the shifts that took place in 18th- and 19th-century capitalism to the organizational and technological shifts taking place today?3) On p. 292 of Chapter 12, Hyman quotes Stephane Kasriel, the CEO of Upwork: There is nothing new here. Firms have been subcontracting to other firms for decades. This seems to confirm Hymans argument that technology hasnt caused the gig economy, but simply reinforced it. Yet Hyman does seem to think that there is something genuinely new about recent online platforms like Upwork, Uber, Etsy, etc. What?4) Describe the connection that Hyman makes between Virtual Reality (VR) technology and the migration problem.5) In a few sentences (or perhaps even a short paragraph), do your best to describe (in your own words) the overall argument that Hyman will be making in this book.3. VocabularyFirst, read the Introduction (pp. 1-14) and Chapters 12-13 (pp. 291-323) of Temp, as well as the New York Times (Links to an external site.), LA Review of Books (Links to an external site.), The Nation (Links to an external site.), and Harvard Business Review (Links to an external site.) reviews of Hymans book. You might also browse the CQ Researcher article on The Gig Economy.Now, Id like you to write 2-3 sentences in which you define the 10 terms, laws, policies, and historical movements/moments/processes listed below. Please do not simply copy-and-paste the first few sentences of the Wikipedia article (though Wikipedia might be where you start your research). Try to go deeper. For a broad term like Labor Union or Keynesianism, think about how these terms relate to Temp. What is the most important thing for you to understand about these terms with regards to Hymans argument? For the more specific terms—e.g., Great Recession of 2008 or IRS Form 1099—try to include a little background for these terms. For example, what are some of the causes and consequences of the Great Recession? How might this connect to changes in the way people work in the U.S.?The point of this assignment is to begin building a vocabulary so that we can understand the context for the argument that Hyman is making in Temp. Building your vocabulary is part of research! The more fully you understand these terms now, the easier the reading (and your Contexts Project research, too) will become.1) Temporary Agency2) Management Consulting3) The New Deal (mention the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938)4) Labor Union5) Deindustrialization6) Keynesianism7) Great Recession of 20088) Income Inequality + Wealth Inequality (whats the difference?)9) IRS Form 1099 (vs. Form W-2)10) Adjunct Faculty in higher education temp__intro__chs_12_13_.pdf gig_economy__cq_researcher_.pdf Unformatted Attachment Preview Published by CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. www.cqresearcher.com The Gig Economy Is the trend toward non-staff employees good for workers? E nabled by the digital revolution, employers increasingly are outsourcing work to contractors and selfemployed or part-time workers, many working offsite thanks to apps and Wi-Fi. Supporters of the so-called gig economy say it gives workers flexibility and freedom to work anytime and anywhere and allows struggling companies to survive and healthy firms to compete globally. But labor unions say outsourcing exploits workers and undermines the economy by allowing companies to replace full-time employees with lower-paid workers without guaranteed hours, income or benefits. And millions of laid-off workers must cobble together multiple jobs as independent contractors. On-demand gig workers, such as Uber drivers, are protesting their lack of benefits, while Uber lobbies local and Dog walker John Aron has his hands full in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. Today’s gig economy offers a lifeline to laid-off workers who must take whatever part-time jobs they can find, while other independent workers like the freedom of being their own boss. state governments to exempt it from “old economy” wage and labor laws. Recently, however, some employers have begun hiring full-time employees with full benefits again, largely because of the high turnover rates and recruitment costs associated with the gig economy. I N THIS REPORT S I D E CQ Researcher • March 18, 2016 • www.cqresearcher.com Volume 26, Number 12 • Pages 265-288 THE ISSUES ....................267 BACKGROUND ................273 CHRONOLOGY ................275 CURRENT SITUATION ........280 AT ISSUE........................281 OUTLOOK ......................283 RECIPIENT OF SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE ◆ AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARD BIBLIOGRAPHY ................286 THE NEXT STEP ..............287 THE GIG ECONOMY 267 THE ISSUES SIDEBARS AND GRAPHICS • Is the gig economy good for workers? • Is the gig economy good for companies? • Should the definition of independent contractor be changed? Contractors Are Biggest Freelance Segment Four in 10 freelancers are independent contractors working project to project. 268 269 Flexibility Attracts Most Freelancers They also like being their own boss and having the freedom to choose projects. 272 Contractor Workforce Soars The share of independent contractors in 10 U.S. cities grew sharply. BACKGROUND 273 276 278 280 280 282 Gig’s Roots Early jazz musicians played non-jazz “gigs” to earn extra money. Boom, Bust Rail-riding hobos sought gig work during the Great Depression. 275 Chronology Key events since 1886. Path to Gig Economy The Internet helped businesses outsource piecemeal work. 276 Co-working Spaces Catching On Shared offices seek to end gig workers’ isolation. CURRENT SITUATION 278 Freelancers Union Fights for the Self-Employed Founder advocates a “new mutualism” for workers and communities. The Economy Unemployment has fallen sharply since 2009, but many jobless people have stopped looking for full-time work. The Lawmakers Many states and cities have not required ride-hailing companies to address drivers’ employment-classification complaints. The Courts Gig workers have sued companies for treating them like employees without extending benefits. OUTLOOK 283 281 At Issue: Is the “gig economy” here to stay? FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 285 For More Information Organizations to contact. 286 Bibliography Selected sources used. 287 The Next Step Additional articles. 287 Citing CQ Researcher Sample bibliography formats. Uncertain Times The future of contractor employment policies remains unclear. Cover: Getty Images/The Denver Post/Kathryn Scott Osler 266 CQ Researcher March 18, 2016 Volume 26, Number 12 EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Thomas J. Billitteri tjb@sagepub.com ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS: Kathy Koch, kathy.koch@sagepub.com, Chuck McCutcheon, chuck.mccutcheon@sagepub.com, Scott Rohrer, scott.rohrer@sagepub.com SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Thomas J. Colin tom.colin@sagepub.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Brian Beary, Marcia Clemmitt, Sarah Glazer, Kenneth Jost, Reed Karaim, Peter Katel, Barbara Mantel, Tom Price SENIOR PROJECT EDITOR: Olu B. Davis ASSISTANT EDITOR: Ethan McLeod INTERN: Molly McGinnis FACT CHECKERS: Eva P. Dasher, Michelle Harris, Nancie Majkowski, Robin Palmer An Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. VICE PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, HIGHER EDUCATION GROUP: Michele Sordi EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ONLINE LIBRARY AND REFERENCE PUBLISHING: Todd Baldwin Copyright © 2016 CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc. SAGE reserves all copyright and other rights herein, unless previously specified in writing. No part of this publication may be reproduced electronically or otherwise, without prior written permission. Unauthorized reproduction or transmission of SAGE copyrighted material is a violation of federal law carrying civil fines of up to $100,000. CQ Press is a registered trademark of Congressional Quarterly Inc. CQ Researcher (ISSN 1056-2036) is printed on acid-free paper. Published weekly, except: (March wk. 4) (May wk. 4) (July wks. 1, 2) (Aug. wks. 2, 3) (Nov. wk. 4) and (Dec. wks. 3, 4). Published by SAGE Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Annual full-service subscriptions start at $1,131. For pricing, call 1-800-818-7243. To purchase a CQ Researcher report in print or electronic format (PDF), visit www.cqpress. com or call 866-427-7737. Single reports start at $15. Bulk purchase discounts and electronic-rights licensing are also available. Periodicals postage paid at Thousand Oaks, California, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CQ Researcher, 2600 Virginia Ave., N.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20037. The Gig Economy BY EUGENE L. MEYER THE ISSUES among other things, freelancers, part-timers, moonlighters, the self-employed, avid Gandy is an “perma-temps” and indepenapostle of the “gig dent contractors. economy,” the brave To its critics, the gig econnew work world in which omy is exploiting workers and people take temporary jobs undermining the national econor work for themselves. He omy by allowing companies sees this growing sector of to replace full-time employees the economy as a godsend with cheaper part-timers who because of the freedom it afdo not get guaranteed hours, fords self-starters like him. income or benefits. But to its “It’s good all around,” says defenders, the gig economy is the 48-year-old Florida native, a savior that, besides offering who has moved from city to workers flexibility and freedom, city and job to job as an Uber allows struggling companies driver, a corporate event proto survive and healthier firms ducer, a caterer, a lighting deto remain nimble in a comsigner and a disc jockey. He’s petitive economy. worked in Chicago and WashExperts differ on the size ington and plans to move of the gig economy in part soon to the San Francisco area. because of limited recent data “As America coins itself as and varying job definitions. The the land of entrepreneurship, federal government put “conthis is where a lot of the bentingent” employees at 7.9 perefits that may not be known cent of the workforce in 2010, to a lot of people will come or a total of 12.2 million, acto the surface and be utilized,” cording to an April 2015 study New York City taxi drivers on Sept. 16, 2015, protest what they call weak regulation of ride-hailing services, Gandy says. In fact, he says, by the U.S. Government Acwhich they say gives companies like Uber and Lyft an the gig economy will boost countability Office. 3 Econounfair competitive advantage. Ride-sharing companies entrepreneurs and eventually mists Seth D. Harris of Cornell want local and state officials to exempt them from “break the backs . . . of these and Alan B. Krueger of Prince“old economy” wage and labor laws, but many of big-box chains and corporate ton estimated there were betheir drivers are demanding benefits and worker-protection laws. overlords.” tween 600,000 and 1.9 million But for others, part-time workers providing services Unable to land anything steady, Gowder through an on-demand company or an gigs are not a choice but a painful necessity. Diane Gowder of San Pedro, became an independently employed eye- online enterprise that offers convenient Calif., used to be a manager for a wear sales representative. “It was a huge access to goods or services. They say market research firm with a good salary, switch,” she said, because she received such workers represent a small — up benefits, paid time off and a retirement no health insurance and had to cover to just over 1 percent — but growing account. But she lost her job in 2005 her own expenses. “I didn’t have a steady percentage of the population. 4 when her firm downsized and has income. It was up. It was down.” 2 In a 2015 survey, the nonprofit FreeWelcome to the gig economy, in lancers Union, which advocates for inbeen scrambling ever since. 1 Despite sending out hundreds of which individuals take on transient work dependent workers, asserted that nearly résumés, she said, she hasn’t found — sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not. 54 million people — one-third of the full-time work. She cites her age as Gig workers run the gamut from laid- nation’s labor pool — do at least some the reason. “At 55, I was either overqual- off factory workers offering dog-walking freelance work. 5 The survey broadly ified or they thought I wanted too services to artists delivering food for defined “freelancers” to include tradimuch money — even though we hadn’t online companies to pay the rent. Econ- tional project-by-project independent even discussed money,” Gowder said. omists and others refer to them as, contractors, moonlighters, temporary Getty Images/Spencer Platt D www.cqresearcher.com March 18, 2016 267 THE GIG ECONOMY Contractors Are Biggest Freelance Segment More than a third of freelance workers were independent contractors, or freelancers without a single employer who work project to project, according to a study of 2014-15 employment trends. More than one-fourth were “diversified workers,” earning small shares of income from a mix of traditional employers and freelance assignments, and about the same share were moonlighters who performed freelance work in addition to their full-time primary jobs. Percentage of Freelance Workers, by Type* Independent contractors Diversified workers Moonlighters Temporary workers Freelance business owners * Percentages do not add to 100 due to rounding. Source: “Freelancing in America: 2015,” Freelancers Union, Upwork and Edelman Berland, September 2015, p. 6, http://tinyurl.com/hjlhkfx workers with a single employer and freelancers who also own a small business. “Freelancing is the new normal,” write Sara Horowitz, the organization’s founder and executive director, and a colleague, summarizing a survey showing freelancers are integral to the new economy. 6 “Increasingly,” writes Steven Hill, a senior fellow at New America, a leftleaning public policy think tank in Washington, “we are going to find that more and more workers exist simultaneously in multiple worker categories — a worker, for example, who has a regular part-time job (W-2, but with little safety net), and supplements that with being an Uber driver and/or Instacart [food] deliverer (1099 worker, still no safety net), as well as other mini-gigs and nano-gigs, and perhaps a second part-time job (temp, freelancer, etc.). Many workers already have multiple employers — sometimes within a single day! 268 CQ Researcher “How will that look in the labor statistics?” Hill asks. “Will we be able to count this complexity, using current methods?” 7 While experts disagree over the size and makeup of the gig economy, many economists, union leaders and others do agree that the 20th-century model of long-term employment with one company is largely history and that, in this new world, the risks — and costs — previously borne by employers largely have shifted to workers. Highlighting this change, President Obama told Congress in his 2016 State of the Union speech in January: “Of course, a great education isn’t all we need in this new economy. We also need benefits and protections that provide a basic measure of security. After all, it’s not much of a stretch to say that some of the only people in America who are going to work the same job, in the same place, with a health and retirement package, for 30 years, are sitting in this chamber.” 8 In fact, some temporary workers do qualify for limited benefits, particularly those hired through job agencies. Snelling Staffing Services, which provides employees to companies in the clerical, light industrial and medical fields, says some contracting firms offer a 401(k) retirement plan to workers after 30 days on the job as well as holiday pay and medical, dental, vision and life insurance. 9 Boosters tout the benefits to both workers and businesses of freelancing in a gig economy, often calling it a new digital-driven industrial revolution. Mobility is the biggest benefit, many say, because work done via the Internet can be done anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. “Mobility is our reality, and this enabling technology” means employees are no longer tethered to a physical office, says Microsoft, the multinational software technology company. 10 According to Boise, Idaho-based TSheets, which helps firms track payroll, the gig economy “simply means more options and a broader horizon for employees. . . . Gone are the days when ‘self-employed’ was a thinly veiled term for unemployment. Increasingly, freelance work and self-employment are associated with greater freedom, flexibility, options, new possibilities and a safety cushion.” 11 While recognizing the downside of “fewer protections” for workers, TSheets concludes that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Others, however, view the gig economy as just a new version of 19thcentury piecework, a system that exploited workers and led them to form labor unions. The “new” model is really a throwback “from a much older concept,” in which “instead of working in a factory for a wage or a salary, workers sewed or assembled goods at home and were paid by the finished item rather than for their time,” writes Laura Clawson, labor editor of Daily Kos, a liberal weblog, quoting journalist Sarah Jaffe. “This ‘revolutionary’ work built out of Silicon Valley convenience is not really about technological innovation — it’s just the next step in a decades-old trend of fragmenting jobs, isolating workers and driving down wages.” 12 Other critics say the gig economy arose largely from the ashes of the 2007-09 recession, when companies replaced full-time and hourly work with on-demand employment beyond the traditional temp agency or union hall hiring environment. This greater use of part-timers, as well as the outsourcing of jobs overseas, is contributing to the shrinking of the middle class and wage stagnation, they say. 13 For instance, a 2014 Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago paper found “a strong association” between slow real wage growth “and marginally attached workers, particularly those working part time involuntarily for economic reasons.” 14 Countervailing trends appear to be at work, however. Some employers are moving away from part-time workers in favor of using full-time employees. Hello Alfred, a New York City company that provides a range of personal butlertype services to clients, pays employees $18 an hour, plus benefits, to those working at least 30 hours weekly. Company officials say full-time workers are better able to build a sense of community and customer loyalty. 15 Munchery, an on-demand company that prepares and delivers food in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and New York, formerly classified its drivers as independent contractors, with no overtime, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation or other benefits. But in 2013, it reclassified them as employees to stanch turnover and ensure a steady workforce. 16 And with unemployment falling and the labor market seemingly tightening, some employers, notably Walmart, are raising the wages of full-time employees to stem turnover and reduce hiring and training costs. 17 As workers, businesses, economists and others debate the gig economy, here are some of the questions under discussion: www.cqresearcher.com Flexibility Attracts Most Freelancers Schedule flexibility and the opportunity to manage oneself were primary motivators for three in four full-time freelancers, according to a study by market research firm Edelman Berland. Freelancers also cited being able to choose a work location and to pursue professional and personal passions as top reasons for freelancing. Motivations for Full-Time U.S. Freelancers, 2014-August July 2014 August 2015 75\% Have schedule flexibility 75\% Be own boss 73\% 70\% 69\% 67\% 67\% Choose Pursue Pursue Spend Control work professional personal more time own location passion passions with friends/ financial family future 64\% Earn extra money Source: “Freelancing in America: 2015, Results Deck,” Freelancers Union, Upwork and Edelman Berland, September 2015, slide 14, http://tinyurl.com/hdqmdqo Is the gig economy good for workers? After the 2007-09 recession, the stars seemed aligned, or crossed, depending on one’s job needs. Unemployment peaked at 10.1 percent, not counting so-called “discouraged” workers who had given up looking for work. Layoffs were rife, and job prospects were grim for many people, including new college graduates. On the other hand, the resulting gig economy seemed like a great opportunity for those needing work. As technical consultants, freelance writers, dog walkers or temp workers stocking warehouse shelves or answering phones, they could earn cash and perhaps develop entrepreneurial skills while enjoying flexible hours and more freedom than a traditional 9-to-5 office job offered. “Today, consulting or freelancing for five businesses at the same time is a badge of honor,” writes Micha Kaufman, a writer about the gig economy, entrepreneurs and the future of work and the CEO and co-founder of Fiverr, an online marketplace for on-demand workers and persons needing services. 18 “It shows how valuable an individual is. Many companies now look to these ‘ultimate professionals’ to solve problems their full-time teams can’t. Or they save money by hiring ‘top-tier experts’ only for particular projects.” While recognizing the challenges, Horowitz of the Freelancers Union notes in her book, The Freelancer’s Bible, that “freelancing is a fluid work medium that rewards nimbleness and flexibility. When it’s working well, there’s no better feeling.” It’s all about opportunity — and of security and sustainability (savings on clothes and meals, for example), leverage (freelancers banding together) and camaraderie in having a community, she writes. 19 Gig proponent Gandy, too, cites the benefits of independent work. “A lot of traditional benefits we get [from companies] in a lot of ways are holding us back” by stifling the entrepreneurial impulse. But with tax breaks and writeoffs offered to business entities such as sole proprietorships and limited liability corporations, he says, “I like the prospect of what’s going on.” A study for Uber, the ride-hailing service, also supports the sunnier view March 18, 2016 269 THE GIG ECONOMY needs or a personal injury or sickness can make it impossible to pay the bills. It eliminates labor prot ... Purchase answer to see full attachment