Union membership has declined substantially over decades while public approval of unions has risen. At the same time, contract and platform work has grown, raising the question of who counts as an employee and what protections follow.
Federal labor law establishes procedures for organizing and bargaining. Critics on both sides argue it is outdated: some that it makes organizing too difficult, others that it imposes rigid structures ill-suited to modern workplaces.
Classification matters enormously. Employees are covered by minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation; independent contractors generally are not, and they bear both halves of payroll tax.
State approaches diverge sharply. Some states have tightened classification tests; others have created intermediate categories or exempted platform work specifically. Federal standards have shifted between administrations.