Governor Ricketts announced on March 16th, 2020, that self-employed freelancers and contracted workers will not being protected under the relief efforts being provided to small businesses in Nebraska due to the now economic hardship being caused by COVID-19.

Freelancers and contracted workers rely on client bookings, events, and more to provide a sustainable life for themselves and their families. These individuals are already seeing the devastating impacts of the mass cancellations and reschedulings. They already lose out on key benefits to help support them in a crisis like this, including paid time off or sick leave.

Freelancers make up around 50% of the nation's workforce. They place more value on skills training; ​70% of full-time freelancers participated in skills training in the past six months compared to only 49% of full-time non-freelancers. They are an active and important part of the current and future economic value of the state of Nebraska. 

Freelancers + contractors are a vital part to this state and this nation. The need for a statutory structure to be in place to protect these workers who contribute to the state of Nebraska is equally as important to the small businesses that the current relief funds are assisting.

These signatures are a call to action to our elected officials to protect the livelihoods of active and important members of our communities by providing similar relief funds to freelance and contracted workers.

- Ariel Panowicz / Freelance Photographer / Nebraska