Month: October 2015

What’s Going on in the Workforce

“You are at least one entity removed from the company where you work, and you are only as good as your last recorded input in a computerized performance monitoring system.” It’s not just Amazon’s temps who have this experience…

Nick Grossman & Elizabeth Woyke have collaborated on a new e-book about resources for workers in the on-demand economy. Get a free download here.

The real cause of Homejoy’s failure wasn’t the fear of employment classification lawsuits—it was more like garden-variety incompetence.

The Brookings Institution released a new paper this week on the potential impact of technology on employment.

Sharing, Solidarity & Sustainability

You know you’re having fun when you’re reading articles that contain the phrase “mediated micro-entrepreneurship” as a hobby. Here’s Maurie Cohen on the benefits of platform cooperativism.

Organizing Theory

The Harry Potter Alliance is asking for first-person stories about your own struggles with income inequality, excessive criminal justice or mental health issues. For more info, see their Tumblr.

The Center for Popular Democracy just released a report revealing their best practices for grassroots fundraising—particularly at the door.

Geeking Out

Why not spend a weekend in April at the University of Miami talking about robot ethics?

Robots with hormones make humans feel better. Yes, I just typed that.

From Partners

Tomorrow at 10:15 am eastern, watch the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program as they discuss financial choices that on-demand economy workers make and are given. Livestream will be here.

“The difference between a rich society and a poor one is the number of problems that society solves for its citizens, and what that means is that technological innovation, which is how you solve problems, is the source of all prosperity.” Nick Hanauer, on how civic tech is a disruptive company’s obligation.

Are you a digital campaigner and a person of color? The Kairos Fellowship is still accepting applications for their 6-month paid fellowship. Deadline is October 25th.

Geeking Out

Wordrates is a newly-launched platform for journalists to rate editors and periodicals, and get help pitching stories.

What’s Going on in the Workforce

Here’s a new twist on ride-sharing: drive (or ride in) a car covered with advertising. For drivers—you’ll get a free car. For riders—the rides are free. Advertisers, you guys are still gonna have to pay.

We hear a lot about the so-called “skills mismatch” where employers complain about how recent graduates aren’t learning the things that they want in an employee. Zoe Baird (yes, THAT Zoe Baird) has some thoughts about what employers might do to make it easier for students & academic institutions to prepare for the jobs of today.

Will the gradual move to AI mean that access to professional skills like architecture or the practice of medicine are democratized?

Sarah Kessler takes a look at how on-demand companies are filling a niche that temp agencies can’t.

Peers’ Shelby Clark, on the results of a recent internal survey, showing that on-demand workers want benefits, but not to be employees.

Geeking Out

But when will we have a snark bot? Or is this the Guardian’s way of telling us that they already do?

If I have a robot to fold my laundry, what will I do during boring conference calls? (Wait, did I say that out loud?)

Organizing Theory

The Workers Lab profiles Seattle’s Fair Work Center, a hub to protect workers’ rights in any industry.

How open campaigning can make your organization’s advocacy work stronger.

Did you know that you can now use electronic signatures to demonstrate interest in forming a union? Download this gripping memo from the NLRB General Counsel to find out how.

Great report by the Center for Media Justice on how digital technology impacts movements of color. Includes a section on the “meaning of membership in the digital age” that everyone needs to read.

From Partners

In DC? Check out this Brookings Institution panel on Robotics, Employment & Social Benefits, and this conversation at 1776: “General Assembly: The Future of Work and the Rise of Hybrid Jobs.”

Have you met the digital labor wiki? If not, you really should.

And finally–in NYC? Hear Steven Hill talk about his new book, Runaway Capitalism, on October 21st.

Sharing, Solidarity & Sustainability

“Instaserfs is the tale of two well-educated white guys discovering what people with fewer advantages have known for decades: the game is rigged.”

Uber, but for air travel. No, seriously.

Another computer scientist has joined the call for a universal basic income.

What’s Going on in the Workforce

“I don’t want to compare myself to an astronaut, but it kind of feels like that sometimes.” On what it’s like to be the test driver of a fleet of driverless cars.

“The future of human work may be situated.” Esso Kilpi on why we may still need some human pilots (among other gigs) after the onset of automated boating.

The Freelancers Union has this new infographic out about freelancers in the US.

Reputation, reputation, reputation

Are we all going to end up rating each other constantly? And if so, will you be rated a jerk?

Organizing Theory

Seattle’s bid to create a non-traditional union for ride-sharing drivers takes a step forward.

From Partners

Actipedia just hit 1000 entries. Still haven’t put your protest movement on there? You should be developing FOMO by now.

This weekend, in London—take back the net.

The National Employment Law Project has a new series of reports & papers out, about the #fightfor15.

Geeking Out

How long until the first “robots aren’t learning the right skills” think piece comes out? Meet the robot training academy.

Final Thoughts

The potential workforce issues aside, you’ve gotta recognize that the self-driving car will save more lives than the traditional kind.