A huge win for gig workers 🙌

Hey there! Hope you enjoyed the long weekend (thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). Since 1983, the third weekend of January honors the achievements of Dr. King and the role he played as a civil rights leader. 

But…it’s actually not mandatory for companies to observe the holiday: While many do, only government workers are legally given the day off. 😶 Let’s change this in 2024, okay?

 1    Millions of gig workers could now be classified as employees 🙌

Ditching the 1099 for the W-2. Last Tuesday, the US Department of Labor issued a new rule that’ll make it harder for employers to classify their workers as independent contractors. In short: If the employee is “economically dependent” on the company, they’re employees, not contractors.   

It’s not uncommon for employers to misclassify workers so they can avoid paying Social Security and unemployment insurance (UI) taxes. But independent contractors aren’t entitled to the same legal protections as employees…and the pitfalls are steep: 

That’s why this is a huge deal. “This [rule] will mean higher wages and overtime pay for millions of workers in gig jobs, health care, construction, and more,” posted pro-labor media outlet More Perfect Union on X. 

But let’s not pop the champagne just yet. The rule is expected to face a tornado of legal challenges from companies and Republican lawmakers alike, who argue it’ll lead to “confusion,” and for “millions of workers to lose opportunities to earn money.”  

The rule is set to go into effect on March 11. We’ll keep you posted on how it rolls out! 

 2   This job market is red hot…and hiring 👷

Huge demand. Flush with cash. Safe from AI. If one industry is booming right now, it’s construction. Over 17,000 construction jobs were added last December, per the Labor Department—and there are still half a million unfilled construction jobs. 

• Zoom Out: Several factors are responsible for the #constructionboom. They include a federal investment in manufacturing, a shortage of housing supply, a workforce that’s slowly fading out (the average construction worker is 42 years old), and more.  

And where there’s demand, there’s leverage. “Our good people are constantly being recruited,” said Lynn Hansen, CEO of Crowder Constructors. To attract talent (especially younger talent) the firm has been increasing salaries, wages, and benefits.

P.S – Here are 30 construction jobs (no experience required!) to kickstart your career.

 3   All aboard the Weinermobile 🌭

A top dog job. Kraft Heinz is hiring “Hotdoggers” to drive its iconic Weinermobiles across America. For 12 months, drivers will visit 20 states, manage 200 events, and drive 200,000 miles. 

• How to Qualify: Heinz is looking for “outgoing, creative, friendly college graduates” who “have an appetite for adventure.” Other must-haves: A bachelor’s degree, can work on major holidays, and a valid driver’s license (a Weinermobile is still a vehicle, after all). 

That’s cool but…what’s the pay? It’s a $35,600 base salary plus a weekly allowance of $150 ($7,200 a year) for food and personal expenses. Heinz also offers 18 days of PTO, a full health benefits package, and will cover 100% of hotel expenses.  

Sound like a job for you? Mustard your courage and apply right here.

STS made over one million dollars in 2023. 🎉

In the (now viral) video recapping our income, we got over a thousand replies from people who had a ton of questions, like…

• What’s STS’s main source of income?

• What are the biggest business expenses?

• Why don’t Hannah and James have the same salaries?

This video answers all those questions (and more!) in detail. If you’re curious to see the behind-the-scenes of the content creation career path, you’ll love this one!

• Job hunting? These are the 25 best companies you can work for, according to Glassdoor.  

• How a mechanic in Portland, OR (who earns $100K a year!) got his start. 🔧

• This just in: Australia to expose large companies’ gender pay gaps. It currently sits at 21.7%. 

• Here are eight boundaries to set at the office. 

• For the first time, women now make up the majority of law firm associates. 🎉

Thanks for reading! Is there anything you’d like to see more of? Less of? Hit ‘reply’ and let us know how we can improve! (Yes, there are real humans behind this email).

See you next week!