Coronavirus Aid Bill Provides Scant Coverage for Gig Workers

The coronavirus pandemic aid package passed in the House Saturday may leave many contractors and gig-economy workers uncovered, particularly if they want to undertake the sort of social distancing that many public health experts have recommended to reduce the spread of the virus.

The rights and benefits extended to workers generally hinge on the legal definition of an “employee"—as compared to an independent contractor—and how an employer or its contractors classifies people on their payrolls. That means that both the self-employment tax credit and emergency paid leave in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act are more complicated for gig workers, ...