Traditionally, employees punch the clock at a job for 40 hours per week, and they might receive benefits such as health insurance or retirement savings in return. For people who need flexibility or want the freedom to be their own boss, not getting those same benefits can be worth the trade off. But why have we always settled for this compromise?
Increasingly, the question isn’t whether we should allow people to choose independent work. Voters and policymakers across the country have recognized that they should follow the will of the vast majority of independent workers, who want to keep their freedom and flexibility.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
But we also need to ask how we can extend benefits to those who need them, regardless of the way they work. That’s why we’re working with Gov. Brian Kemp to rethink the old rules and find a way to provide meaningful benefits without completely sacrificing the desired flexibility.
People choose app-based work for different reasons. In 2023, more than 330,000 Georgians chose DoorDash to help earn a living. The vast majority of these Georgians are working for just a few hours each week, supplementing their existing income, including to offset rising prices. Other hardworking Georgians do app-based work more frequently, and it has become a way for them to make ends meet.
Regardless of how a person earns a living, the need for benefits has remained the same. People still need to go to the doctor, still want to take vacations with their families and still want to retire.
There can be a better way forward, and it’s time for policymakers to act. DoorDash has partnered with Kemp to serve as one of the pioneers for a pilot program to do just that. From now through July, thousands of Georgians who earn income on DoorDash can be eligible for contributions that can be used toward benefits. Those who earn at least $1,000 in the first quarter of 2025 can open a savings account into which DoorDash will deposit an amount equal to 4% of their pre-tip earnings.
With this pilot, Georgia is forging a path forward when it comes to the future of work. Here are three reasons that’s important.
First, this program offers more freedom for those who earn money on our platform and makes their lives a little easier. Not only does it provide a platform and resources for benefits, but it also creates freedom to choose how they allocate them. Some workers might already have health insurance through a family member. They shouldn’t be forced to purchase a plan they don’t need or forfeit the funds. Instead, they can apply their contributions for time off or retirement.
Second, the six-month trial period will yield valuable data and learning lessons. We’ll be able to assess how participants are engaging with the program, how it’s meeting their needs and other trends. In a similar pilot we launched in Pennsylvania last year, 4,400 workers signed up to participate, and nearly 90% of participants said it has been beneficial. We can share this data with policymakers as they consider laws that would make this kind of program permanent and apply it to all companies in our industry — delivering even greater impact for workers.
Finally, this idea is grounded in bipartisanship and common sense. It has the backing of Kemp, who, like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, has demonstrated an ability and willingness to focus on results. Georgia and Pennsylvania were the first homes of these pilot programs. Hopefully, other elected officials will follow this path forward.
The numbers are clear: 66% of voters believe that app-based workers should remain independent contractors. Even at a time when consensus can be hard to come by, a majority of voters across both parties support policies like portable benefits. This is the future of work, and we need to make the future a reality right now. The system of benefits must keep up. Progress depends on it.
Max Rettig is vice president and global head of public policy, social impact and sustainability at DoorDash.
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