The Pro Act is a road to hell paved with good intentions
H.R. 842 threatens over 50m Americans overnight and puts America on the wrong side of history.
For readers outside the US, you’ve probably had a good time wondering ‘what the f’ is going on in the US these past couple of years.
In 2020 I was one of those living abroad but looking at my own country wondering when reality wouldn’t be a reality TV show.
But it seems the US has replaced sensationalist tweets with short sighted policy.
This short sighted policy is H.R. 842, which passed in the House on March 9.
If you’d like my formal take, check out the article I just published in Forbes.
My Personal Take
The bill won’t pass the Senate. But the impact cuts deeper than one bill, since my fear is that this rhetoric lingers to the point that we accept it.
It reminds me of my experience living in San Francisco. Initially I was appalled by the dirtiness of the city. There was literally human poop on the streets. But gradually I was desensitized and accepted it as normal.
There’s human poop. Then there’s human potential.
It is outright unacceptable to jeopardize human potential, which is exactly what this bill does.
What is the global impact?
The global freelance economy is here to stay. At Venture L over 60% of our network is from outside the US. We didn’t prioritize any one location. Organically this distribution formed.
But freelancers won’t equally benefit depending on the policy decisions their governments make.
US impact: 😔
Companies will hire less US freelancers since US freelancers will be more expensive, less flexible, and more red tape. The increase in potential legal conflict now or in the future significantly increases this red tape. And US freelancers already have a lower ROI.
Outside of the US impact: 😀
Companies will increase hiring freelancers outside the US.
The US has been leading the freelance economy, specifically through income earned for freelancers.
But this bill hands over the keys.
Which means for my non US friends - the time is now!!!
And for my US friends - we have some course correction on our hands.
Where can we go from here?
If you’re reading this you believe in the freelance economy.
You know there’s a difference between Uber drivers in the ‘gig’ economy and military spouse creatives in the freelance economy.
Unfortunately government doesn’t, and it’s up to us to educate and correct this difference.
What can we do to accelerate this (without creating pay-for-play trade organizations)?
Join together. On Twitter let’s rise up fellow voices.
Collaborate together. I’ll be hosting an informal meeting with 50 fellow leaders on how ways to join together. Reply if you’d like to join.
Kick ass ethically. If you’re a freelancer, deliver incredible. If you’re a leader, hire freelancers and empower their growth. The decisions we make today will have repercussions for the next 50 years.
What else should we be doing? I’d love to hear your take!
Also this past year we curated the Top 50 Global Change Makers driving the ethical adoption of the freelance economy.
This is a start. Let’s keep the momentum going!!
We can do this,
Matthew
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