CMV: If you have a choice between a regular job with good benefits (health insurance, pension, etc) and a "gig economy" job with more flexibility and more pay, you should choose the regular job.

If you have a choice between a regular job (with benefits) and a "gig economy" job (without benefits), you should choose the regular job.<br><br>Here are some reasons why:<br><br>1. You will still have medical insurance even if you get injured on the job. If you can't work, you'll still be able to go to the doctor. (This happened to me in real life. I fell down the stairs at work and broke my arm. I needed two operations. I had a excellent health insurance plan with my employer that covered nearly everything. I still owed some money to my doctors who fixed my broken bones, but I didn't loose my house or my car or go bankrupt.)<br><br>2. If you have health insurance, you can go to the doctor even if you aren't injured at work. This means you can go to the doctor when you are sick. You can also go to the doctor when you are not sick. You can go to the doctor when you are healthy. There is no reason not to go to the doctor. Many "gig economy" jobs do not offer health insurance plans.<br><br>3. If you have health insurance part of your regular job, you will be able to get help if you have a problem with drugs or booze or smoking. Many health insurance plans also pay for therapy if you need it.<br><br>4. If you have a regular job, you will qualify for unemployment benefits if you loose your job. If you have a "gig economy" job, you are considered "self employed" and do not qualify for unemployment benefits. No job and no unemployment money means you won't have any money for food.<br><br>5. If you have a regular job, you will qualify for a pension when you retire. Many regular jobs have a "defined benefit plan" as part of your employment. Some jobs match your "defined contribution plan" (like a 401(a)). If you have a "gig economy" job, you are on your own to save for retirement. Many people don't save enough for retirement. With a regular job, you can not save for retirement and still have money for your old age. (When you are old, and you do not have any money and you can't work any more, you will powerfully wish you had a bit more money to buy food. )<br><br>6. If you have a regular job, you will have a union to help if you have trouble at work. If you get fired unfairly, the union will help you get your job back. If you are treated unfairly at work, the union will help make it fair. Many "gig economy" jobs do not have unions.<br><br>7. If you have a regular job, it is easier to get a mortgage to buy a house. (You need to be working at the same job for at least three years before a bank will give you a mortgage.) If you have a "gig economy" job, it will be harder to convince a bank to give you a mortgage because you don't have a regular income.<br><br>If you can choose between a regular job and a "gig economy" job, you should choose the regular job because a regular job has so many advantages that "gig economy" jobs do not have. Many people who chose "gig economy" jobs will be very sad in the future when they don't have any money, no place to live, no car to drive, no food to eat, etc.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I know someone is going to say that they would choose a "gig economy" job because they can set their own schedule. Many people who choose "gig economy" jobs want to work more hours one week and fewer hours other weeks. But most regular jobs also have flexibility in the hours. My job, for example, allows me take paid vacation time (one month per year) and also lets me go home early if I am sick or have a doctor appointment. (I don't have to take a sick day if I only need two hours off to to to the dentist.)<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Also, someone will probably say that some "gig economy" jobs pay more than regular jobs. I agree that some "gig economy" jobs pay more than regular jobs. But most gig economy jobs do not pay any more than regular jobs. (I know someone is going to point out that being a Uber driver pays a lot of money. But most Uber drivers do not make much money. Very few Uber drivers make a lot of money.)<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I would love to have someone change my view. I can only think of disadvantages of taking a gig economy job instead of a regular job with benefits.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>Edit: Some people have commented that small businesses can't offer benefits like big businesses. But the view that regular jobs are better than gig economy jobs is still true even if some regular jobs do not offer benefits. Benefits are just one of the many reasons why regular jobs with benefits are better than gig economy jobs.