Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The gig economy is expanding into the healthcare industry, with millions of workers, including nurses, turning to temporary work through apps. A new report by AI Now finds that healthcare staffing platforms are pushing for legal recognition as independent contractors, exempting them from obligations to pay minimum wage or provide benefits. This trend raises concerns about worker security and potential wage suppression. The report highlights practices such as algorithm-based management systems, which determine pay and track performance, and the use of lowest-bid systems to connect nurses with jobs.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
The gig economy’s creep into healthcare is redefining the nursing profession, with millions of workers turning to temporary work through apps. Companies like Clipboard Health and Shiftkey are pushing for legal recognition as independent contractors, exempting them from obligations to pay minimum wage or provide benefits. This trend raises concerns about worker security and potential wage suppression. The use of algorithm-based management systems and lowest-bid systems to connect nurses with jobs is also troubling.
The gig economy’s influence on the nursing profession is a stark reminder that even the most stable and safe industries are not immune to the pressures of the modern workforce.
Author: Evan Null
