The Weekly Independent: December 11, 2017

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.

• What the GOP’s proposed tax bill may mean for independent contractors and small business deductions.

• Deloitte’s latest future of work report predicts the alternative workforce—gig workers, freelancers, off-balance sheet workers—will continue to grow.

• How to optimize your personal website for Google search to increase organic traffic.

• More than half of global leaders plan to transfer one-third of full-time positions to freelance or contingent roles, according to a new report.

• Top business books independent professionals should read in 2018.

• The UK government may delay reforms to gig economy practices, The Guardian reports.

• Freelancing pays more than a typical 9-to-5 job, according to Time.

• HR Dive explores the benefits and difficulties of the fast-growing contingent workforce.

• A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling found that port truckers in Los Angeles are employees and not independent contractors.

• How do freelancers unionize? Facebook groups, Quartz reports.

• Bloomberg explores the costly implications of worker misclassification.

• The Motley Fool reports on the top 20 emerging jobs from LinkedIn’s 2017 Emerging Jobs report.

• Uber’s request to appeal an employment rights case to the UK Supreme Court was rejected.

• NPR explores a growing concern about the safety of gig economy workers.

• By 2024 UK’s self-employed workforce will be dominated by those over the age of 50, new research finds.

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!