Gig Economy: The Great Equalizer?

As a broader range of industries have joined the gig economy, multiple jurisdictions have confronted an essential question. Should workers in the gig economy be treated as employees, subject to expanded legal protections, or as independent contractors, responsible for a greater proportion of their own welfare? Some US states have adopted legal tests that require employers to treat most gig economy workers as employees, while others have specifically classified them as independent contractors. Meanwhile, many other countries—including an increasing number in the developing world—are beginning to confront the same question in political debates and legal proceedings. This panel will discuss the status of the issue in the United States and around the world. As other states and countries continue to debate new legislation, are they more likely to treat gig workers as employees or independent contractors? In the meantime, how do companies and workers manage their uncertain status, whether through specific changes in practice or through broad advocacy campaigns? PANELISTS: Janine Berg Janine is a Senior Economist in the Inclusive Labour Markets, Labour Relations and Working Conditions Branch (INWORK) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Since her time at the ILO, she has centered her research on the economic effects of labour laws and provided technical assistance to ILO constituents on policies for generating jobs and improving working conditions. From 2008 to 2011, Janine worked at the ILO office in Brazil as an employment specialist. Aside from her work, she is the author of several books and articles on employment and labour market institutions. She received her Ph.D. from the New School for Social Research in New York. Ana Lucia Cepeda Ana is the Founder and Director of Bolsa Rosa and has been named by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in Mexico. She specializes in issues related to labor flexibility and labor trends in Mexico. She has been recognized and awarded by the Cartier Women's Initiative. She created Bolsa Rosa in 2012, being the first and only company in Mexico that promotes the professional development of female talent and labor innovation through flexible work schemes. The business model currently has an impact at the national level and is on its way to growth towards Latin America. She holds a graduate degree from CEDIM Mexico. Shiyan Koh Shiyan is the Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, a pre-seed fund that invests in software startups in Southeast Asia and North America. Prior to Hustle Fund, she was the VP of Business Operations and Corporate Development at NerdWallet, a consumer finance business she helped scale from 10 to 450 employees. She was previously an investment professional at Bridgewater Associates and Institutional Venture Partners. She holds degrees in Biomechanical Engineering and Economics from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Terri McBride Terri currently serves as Vice President, Human Resources EMEA at Protegrity. She is a senior human capital and operations leader with a 15+ year record of achievements in organization development, talent management, strategy implementation, transformational change, and leadership & learning development. An experienced people strategy advisor, HR business partner, and COO, she focuses on driving results in fast-paced environments that value commercially-driven and collaborative problem-solving. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, she spent the early portion of her career at A.T. Kearney and McKinsey & Company.