Today’s Solutions: April 17, 2026

The rise of alternative work arrangements has created a rift in the labor system. Because our system ties many rights and programs to full-time employment, the gig economy–ushered in by Uber, Lyft, Handy, TaskRabbit, Postmates, and a growing list of companies–is creating a second class of workers that don’t have the same benefits. That’s why a Senator from Virginia has introduced four bills that attempt to fix the problem fundamentally. The bills look to create a new system of support for gig workers, by giving tax credits to businesses that train workers, help workers pay for their own training, make it easier for non-full-time employees to get mortgages, and help start a system that untethers benefits like healthcare and sick days from full-time employment. For a deeper dive into the details of these four bills, take a look here.

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