COVID-19 Relief Fund

Tags

COVID-19, gig, job, unemployment

As a result of the anticipated local economic impact of COVID-19, the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA) is standing up a relief fund to meet the needs of gig economy workers who have been directly impacted via loss of income.

NOLABA is committing $100,000 to initiate the fund, with a goal of increasing the fund assets to a minimum of $500,000. We have issued a charge across the community to encourage business leaders, philanthropy, and concerned New Orleanians to contribute to increase the potential reach and impact of this relief effort.

As of 2017, gig economy workers represent more than 8% of the workforce in Orleans Parish, including rideshare drivers, musicians, arena workers, and festival production staff. As contract employees of often large corporations, gig economy workers tend to lack access to minimum wage, paid sick leave, overtime pay, and standard employee benefits, making them particularly susceptible to changes within the economy.

In New Orleans, many of our gig-workers depend on the cultural calendar for reliable income. With the cancellations and postponements of many large local events on the horizon, this community stands to lose out on millions of dollars of potential income, directly impacting their livelihoods and family well-being. This relief fund is being set up to ensure that these critical members of our community continue to be active participants in our economy, with an economic outlook they can depend on.

We recognize that this fund will only be part of the solution for most families. NOLABA will be aggressively advocating for resources alongside Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the New Orleans City Council, as the need becomes more evident and the federal government’s response is solidified.

 

Strategy

Temporary Relief Fund Goal	$500,000+
Award Size	$500 – $1,000; dependent on a determination of need
Eligibility for Multiple Awards	Yes. Applicants can re-apply after 45 days if they remain eligible.
Approval Criteria	Proof of residency in Orleans Parish Proof that ≥ 60% of income is generated via “gig-work” Demonstrated loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic At or below 100% Annual Median Income (AMI) Guidelines (Reference)
Document Requirements	Driver’s License, bill, or bank statement proving residency Independent Contractor Agreement(s) or other proof of gig-related employment 2018 or 2019 Tax Return demonstrating income threshold Bank statements reflecting a minimum of 90 days of income activity, prior to March 9, 2020 Bank statements reflecting compromised income for a minimum of 7 days, post March 9, 2020
Ineligible Recipients	Workers with full-time employment outside of the gig-economy Workers domiciled outside of Orleans Parish
Grant Disbursement Mechanism	Funds will be disbursed via check to approved recipients.
Funding Source for Relief Fund	$100,000 to be committed by NOLABA, with room for $400,000+ of follow-on contributions. Individual contributions will be processed via Commit Change, which takes a 3% fee for each transaction. Corporate gifts will be collected via check or ACH payment.

Apply

COVID-19 Relief Grant Application

America’s geography of wealth: the shrinking urban middle class

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capitalism, informal economy, labor organizing, New Orleans, unemployment

Source: America’s geography of wealth: the shrinking urban middle class visualised | Cities | The Guardian

Will This New Labor Classification Save Gig Workers’ Careers? – Forbes

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gig, informal economy, job, labor organizing, unemployment

With the debate over worker classification in the Gig Economy raging, many employers who hire freelancers and contractors live in fear .

 

“That was the biggest issue: If you create something like this, are companies going to take advantage and coerce people to do it?” says Zaino. “We think they are not going to be able to coerce people above a certain income level. They are not providing a routine service that is a commodity.”

It is also possible there could be considerable political opposition to such a proposal–even if freelancers like it.

With labor market trends pointing to a future in which more people do independent work, governments in the U.S. and other nations are moving toward aggressively reclassifying workers now doing contract work as employees, notes Zaino. “They don’t want to lose that payroll tax,” he says.

Source: Will This New Labor Classification Save Gig Workers’ Careers? – Forbes

Will Work For Free

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job, labor organizing, unemployment

This film covers technological unemployment and the implications of a jobless UK economy.