The Weekly Independent: March 12, 2018

Staying on top of your field means staying ahead of the biggest news stories. That’s why each week we bring you The Weekly Independent, a quick-hit digest of news of note from around the web.

• Harvard Business Review explores the role of skilled professional independent workers in the gig economy.

• Five tips for creating a professional profile for an independent consulting job marketplace.

• The Labor Department has updated their website, removing links that provided guidance on how to interpret employee-employee relationships, joint employment, and independent contractor misclassification, Bloomberg reports.

• The Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of a case involving a large trucking carrier and a long-haul driver over whether labor disputes brought by independent contractors can be forced into arbitration.

• As the independent workforce grows, so do court challenges, National Public Radio reports.

• Six best practices for drafting an independent contractor agreement.

• How to create a freelancer benefits package from U.S. News & World Report.

• The majority of jobs in the future will belong to freelancers, says one future of work expert.

• Here’s how blockchain could re-balance the freelancer-employer dynamic.

• Fast Company looks at why remote workers should take mini-retreats together.

• How to financially prepare to launch your own business, according to CNN Money.

• A suite of apps and courses from The Daily Beast to help get your small business up and running.

Of course, we’d love to talk virtually as well. Share your thoughts with us at MBO Partners on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and we’ll see you again next week!