When Gig Work Becomes a Public Health Issue

17 Jan When Gig Work Becomes a Public Health Issue

I actually am a fan of the hashtag gigeconomy..in many ways it is a better way to get work done and for some workers it offers a ton of flexibility, or is at least an alternative to the traditional model of work. That said, not getting paid some months because your contract ended last month and another one is not going to start for a while is a stressful situation for the majority of workers. So I do think we have to be realistic about what the transition to a more gig-ified work world is going to look like for people. As I write about in my most recent column for the Globe and Mail, there is actual evidence that income instability takes a toll on health and particularly on heart health. You really don’t have to do a lot of math to see that not only could that be catastrophic for individuals, it could also be quite expensive in terms of public health costs. A lot to consider, but we need to start talking about it.