Posts tagged Jonathan Wolfson
WATCH: I4AW’s Jonathan Wolfson Testifies Again: Portable Benefits Bill Considered in Kansas House of Representatives
February 11, 2026 // Visiting Fellow Jonathan Wolfson testified before the Kansas House of Representatives to offer expert analysis on HB 2602, a state bill that would allow businesses that hire independent workers to pay for benefits like retirement accounts or insurance without risking being punished by the government for "misclassifying" the freelancer as an independent worker instead of an employee.
Testimony: Jonathan Wolfson: NH House of Representatives Committee, House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
January 20, 2026 // And what this bill really does at says if a worker and the business that they're working with want to enter into an agreement where a portion of that pay, whether that is the pay, the base pay they agree on or some sort of supplemental pay, wants to go into some sort of account. Maybe that business offers health savings accounts to their employees and they say to that independent worker, would you like us to put some of the dollars that we would otherwise pay you into that health savings account which allow you to have some tax benefits for the dollars going in there instead of going to you directly? This allows them to do that without taking the risk that in the status quo they have. And that risk is that by simply paying those dollars into a benefited account, that business is at risk that that person could be considered misclassified under New Hampshire law. whether that is workers compensation, unemployment insurance, state labor law, or state tax law.
Chair Cassidy, Scott, Paul Release Legislative Package Empowering Independent Workers to Access Portable Benefits
July 7, 2025 // “We applaud Sen. Cassidy for striving to ensure independent contractors can be protected and receive benefits similar to employees without jeopardizing their entrepreneurship or independence. The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act supports independent contractors and freelancers by allowing businesses to provide benefits without redefining worker status. In today’s evolving economy, flexible work shouldn’t come at the cost of healthcare or retirement security. This legislation helps ensure that all American workers – regardless of classification – can have access to benefits like health care and retirement plans,” said F. Vincent Vernuccio, J.D., President, Institute for the American Worker.
A Fresh Look at the Independent Workforce with New BLS Data
November 27, 2024 // New BLS data reveal the size and growth of the independent workforce, preferences for independent work over W-2 employment, and key demographic and industry trends