On Tuesday, Senator Warner stopped in Richmond to have lunch with more than a dozen local workers who are part of the "on-demand economy" to learn more about their experiences working as freelance workers and independent contractors. Over sandwiches and coffee at the Greenbriar Café & Coffeehouse, Senator Warner had a lively discussion with Virginia workers who make a living or supplement their income as part of the on-demand economy. 

In recent months, Sen. Warner has developed a national profile for his attention to the remarkable changes taking place in the economy due to advances in communication and technology, a phenomena known variously as the “on-demand economy,” the “gig economy,” and the “sharing economy.” Sen. Warner is working to put forward practical policy solutions to keep up with this dynamic  shift in the economy.

Susan is a working mom who needed a car to drive her 10-year-old son Nicholas to activities, and drives for the on-demand service Uber in her spare time so that her car “helps pay for itself.” Chad, who owns a web and social media company, started hosting on Airbnb in 2013, and says the $7,500 or so he earns each year helps offset his mortgage and pay for occasional travel. 

Likewise, Scott, a married father of two, started driving for Uber last fall and told Senator Warner that the additional income “dramatically increased” his quality of life. By leaving in the mornings an extra half an hour early and picking up one or two fares before heading to his day job, one or two more on the way home, and occasional weekend rides, he said that he was able to earn enough extra money to take his family on vacation in Greece.

Others are hoping to use the freedom and flexibility of the on-demand economy as a launchpad for a full-time career. Kimberly operates a handmade gift and stationary boutique on Etsy, and hopes one day to turn her Etsy shop into her full-time job. Kimberly said that she would even welcome a one-third cut in her take-home pay if it meant being able to give up a traditional 9-to-5 job. Similarly, Maryam told Senator Warner that she started driving full-time for Uber in May, in order to be able to quit a full-time job she found unfulfilling.

Whether it was a supplemental gig or a full-time career, a number of the roundtable participants had a lot in common. Most said that they valued the freedom and flexibility of on-demand work, even if it sometimes paid less than a “traditional” full- or part-time job.

They also shared many of the same concerns. The roundtable participants expressed concern and confusion about how to file and plan for their tax obligations typically handled by a full-time employer. They told Senator Warner they hoped that policymakers would do more to educate on-demand workers about financial planning and tax requirements. 

Many of the workers also reported that that they were struggling with significant amounts of student debt. Tommy told Senator Warner that he was frustrated to be burdened with loans for college that, he said, not only added up, but had little relation to his current career path. Senator Warner is preparing to introduce bipartisan legislation next month that will streamline and simplify income-based repayment of student loans. 

Senator Warner noted that college loans now outpace credit card debt as the largest category of American debt, and expressed concerns that this debt would limit  the ability of young entrepreneurs to take risks to launch their own businesses.