Across a diverse set of industries, contract work is booming, and that is raising concerns about a lack of anti-discrimination, harassment and other legal protections for those workers.
President Trump's firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson over Twitter is not common practice, but some workers say dismissal sometimes comes with a healthy dose of unnecessary disrespect.
Passage of paid family leave laws in states like Washington is spurring federal lawmakers from both parties to float their own proposals, but so far support is not bridging party lines.
The movement has galvanized workers in low-wage industries to shine a light on sexual harassment and assault. Advocates are pushing for changes including higher wages and better reporting tools.
A new NPR/Marist poll shows that more than half of contract workers don't get employee benefits. "We really don't have much of a social safety net, and that's terrifying," freelancer Matt Nelson says.
One in five workers is a contract worker, according to a new NPR/Marist poll. Within a decade, contractors and freelancers could make up half of the workforce, a shift with far-reaching implications.
Is the shift in dealing with sexual harassment driven by differences in how the generations perceive the issue — or is it indicative of a shift in how we think about work?
Allegations of sexual harassment often sound like they would make a good lawsuit, but many such cases are quickly dismissed. The law sets a high bar for what constitutes sexual harassment.