Risk & Business Magazine Nesbit Agencies Winter 2018 | Page 30

MITIGATING RISK MITIGATING RISK IN A GIG ECONOMY “In a world where, by 2020, it is projected that gig workers will comprise almost half of the labor force in the United States, personal risk is at an all- time high.” 30 O ne of the fastest growing economic demographics right now is freelancers. Increasingly, the Internet is allowing creative and other in-demand workers to leave the traditional workforce and take the reins of their own businesses, often working from home or on the road. Ultimately, this is a great thing. It helps to build the economy, helps create value, and provides a service to those who need it. The individuals doing the work gain the freedom of working on their own time, their own schedules, and taking the work they want to take rather than whatever flies across their desk. In a world where, by 2020, it is projected that gig workers will comprise almost half of the labor force in the United States, personal risk is at an all-time high. Gig workers have a bad tendency to not only be uninsured but also underestimate their own risk. This all stems from a lack of education about insurance itself and how it may affect them. There are a slew of aspects to this: • What changes when you are running a business out of your house? What is covered under personal insurance and what is under business insurance?