Kristin Sharp, CEO of the Flex Association, has highlighted the potential of portable benefits as a viable solution for expanding benefit access without forcing individuals to choose between employment and independence. She also welcomed legislative efforts in this direction.
"Portable benefits offer a promising path forward," said Sharp. "There's growing bipartisan recognition that we can expand benefit access without forcing a binary choice between employment and independence. We appreciate Senators Cassidy and Scott and their ongoing leadership to support independent workers. Flex looks forward to continuing to work with Senators Cassidy, Scott, and others as we pursue practical solutions—at both the federal and state levels—to ensure workers don't have to sacrifice flexibility to do the kind of work they prefer."
On July 7, 2025, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced a comprehensive legislative package aimed at updating labor laws to meet the needs of today's evolving workforce. According to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the proposal includes four bills: the Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act, Modern Worker Empowerment Act, Association Health Plans Act, and Independent Retirement Fairness Act. These bills collectively aim to enable independent workers to access portable health and retirement benefits by addressing long-standing legal and regulatory gaps that have hindered gig, freelance, and contract workers from receiving benefits comparable to those available to traditional employees.
The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act is a central component of this legislative package. It establishes a federal "safe harbor" provision allowing businesses to offer benefits to independent contractors without affecting their worker classification status. This provision seeks to eliminate a significant legal barrier that has historically discouraged companies from providing health insurance, retirement savings plans, and other benefits to non-employees. By clarifying that offering benefits will not be used as evidence of employee status, the bill aims to encourage greater voluntary participation by companies in supporting the economic security of independent workers.
According to the Senate HELP Committee, approximately 27 million Americans currently work as independent contractors in various sectors such as rideshare driving, food delivery, professional consulting, and creative services. The legislative package aims to ensure these workers can access portable workplace benefits while maintaining the flexibility that attracts many to independent work. Proponents argue that by providing a clearer regulatory framework, the bills will reduce uncertainty for businesses, expand economic security for workers, and encourage innovation in benefit delivery models suited for the modern workforce.
The Flex Association represents leading app-based companies like DoorDash, Lyft, Instacart, and Uber. Sharp praised the bipartisan approach taken by Senators Cassidy and Scott during her remarks at the Senate HELP Committee hearing on July 16, 2025. She emphasized that modernizing benefit frameworks is crucial for meeting the demands of a workforce increasingly driven by flexibility and autonomy.
The Flex Association serves as a national advocate for app-based platforms across transportation, delivery, and home services. Its mission is to protect and expand flexible work opportunities while advocating for policies that support both workers and consumers.