Low-income, independent, hourly, and gig economy workers are particularly hurt by the recession that could be brought on by the coronavirus, which is forcing governments to restrict businesses and limit crowds to stem the number of infections.
According to a recent survey conducted among roughly 400 members of the Freelancers Union, more than two-thirds of the respondents expect to lose revenue in the coming weeks. Roughly a third of them would be unable to work from home if they had to self-quarantine.
BuzzFeed News spoke to an accountant, a personal finance adviser, and the president of the Freelancers Union to find advice for these workers during the pandemic.
What should I think about first?
If you are on payroll and are laid off or furloughed, you should qualify for some kind of unemployment, Richard Cecchi, a certified public accountant based in Babylon, New York, told BuzzFeed News. Freelancers, independent contractors, and other self-employed people…