“AB5 is detrimental to my small blog. Hiring contractors to do small things for me here and there is how I make it work. I cannot ask all of those contractors to become employees. It is unsustainable. I will have to look out of state for help.”
Cori
“As a person with a disability, freelance writing is the only way I have been able to make a living and have a viable career. AB5 will not only rob people like me of having dignity and a source of income.”
Elyse
“As an Independent contractor Interpreter I work for multiple agencies and have the freedom to work when I want and as much as I want. I love what I do and AB5 will drastically limit the work I can perform. I can get a job with benefits and payroll deductions, but I prefer to work as an independent contractor because it’s more lucrative and flexible. “
Lucy
“I am a freelance translator. Two major clients just locked me out of vendor portals, just because I live in California. Over 90% of my income is from these two companies.”
Baofeng
“I love being my own boss, contributing to multiple publications, controlling my own schedule, being flexible enough to take time off whenever my young son needs me. If one of my clients offered me a full-time W-2 job, I’d probably say no. Luckily, I haven’t yet been directly impacted by AB5. But I do have a solid client that’s started offering me smaller pieces of work, so I worry about hitting that 35-submission limit. It’d be a shame if I had to turn down work, from a client that pays and treats me well, due to an arbitrary limit”
Amber
“I use my own tools to work in the entertainment industry and have to drive approx 30,000 miles a year. All of these are write offs that I depend on to stay in business. Take that away and my family is homeless including my 11 month old baby.”
Eddie
“I quit my tech job 4.5 years ago to shear sheep and write. In mid 2017, I moved my grandmother to California. She is completely cognitively and physically impaired. I love my life, independence, business, and family. The state should not be able to take those away.”
Stephany
“I am an online teacher hired as an IC. The company I work for is based in China….they have already stated that they will no longer hire CA teachers”
Anonymous
“I am a bandleader and work with 20 different musicians through the course of the year. Some I will use once some 15-20 times. The costs of making them employees, work comp, payroll costs etc. will put me out of business.”
Donna
“Independent court and deposition reporters! We freelance for several firms, set our own schedule, don’t need benefits. Want to stay independent!”
Lorri
“I am a translator and work as an independent contractor for many years, for only one company. I was told by email 20 days ago that I won’t be able to work for them anymore, starting in January. It’s my only income and I love what I do”
Claire
“I write more than 35 freelance articles in a month, and this bill would cap me at less than that for a year. And it will not force anyone to hire me on staff”
Anonymous
“I’m a pharmacist who’s lost my position as an IC who performs inspections of pharmacies across the country for compliance to standards of safe practices in nonsterile and sterile compounding.”
Nancy
“My work as an independent is threatened, I am retired but like to supplement my income by picking up a few jobs during the year.”
Kathleen
“As a mobile Notary Signing Agent, I am in limbo with this disastrous law.”
Elizabeth
“I am a tax preparer. I prepare corporate and partnership returns for mostly entertainment clients. If they are forced to become employees of the studios, I lose my business. I’ve had some of my clients for 30 years.”
Susan
“Translation business-owner here. I have the option to contract translators elsewhere. But I would rather be able to continue contracting with excellent CA-based translators. AB5 brings a lot of uncertainty. Without an exception, we may be forced to contract outside CA.”
Micaela
“Please understand that my mother, a translator and interpreter for over 30 years, will no longer be allowed to speak for immigrants in the court system because of AB 5.”
Mayan
“Please fix AB 5 so that I may continue to put food on my table as I struggle to rebuild my home in Paradise. Still displaced after the Camp Fire.”
Alexis
“Just lost my ability to earn a living because of California Assembly Bill 5. My freelance brokerage company says they have to let California authors go. Almost a decade of hard work gone in an instant. I can’t stop crying. Right before Christmas.”
Andi
“Today, along with literally HUNDREDS of my colleagues, I was told that I can no longer hold a paid position at SB Nation. California, you’re breaking my heart (and taking my money).”
Rebecca
“I cannot begin to explain the stress this has put on me and my family. I know there are no guarantees in this business. I could lose clients to layoffs, or to a recession. But I never thought the government would just take work away from me arbitrarily.”
Whitson
“I have been a professional journalist since 2005. I have worked full-time and freelanced for a significant amount of years in my career. Most recently, I was laid off from a full-time editor position Bustle in November and due to AB-5, many of the publications that were initially interested in me freelancing for them stopped being interested.”
Mallory
“I am an independent contractor working in the film and television industry who’s had plenty of sleepless nights worrying about the future of my business. If AB 5 is not overturned, I don’t believe small service businesses such as mine have a future in this state.”
Travis
“I am a freelance Spanish interpreter and have been certified since 2012. AB 5 will dismantle our industry’s decades-old, proven independent contractor model and force us to adopt an unsustainable alternative which will drive many language professionals to leave our thriving careers and deprive limited English proficient individuals of their right to receive services in their primary language.”
Jennifer
“I lost my job of 12 years as a medical transcriptionist because of AB5. Many in this profession value the flexibility in hours and working from home more than employee status. Now I have no money at all.”
Marsha
“After 27 years in construction trucking, own a home, raised 2 boys, own $250,000 worth of CARB LEGAL equipment. AB 5 will put me out of business!”
Kirk
“This hurts the Deaf community because of the complications in hiring and retaining qualified sign language interpreters.”
Laura
“Please understand that my mother, a translator and interpreter for over 30 years, will no longer be allowed to speak for immigrants in the court system because of AB 5.”
Connie
“I am a full-time employee at a corporation in California, but I work as a freelance writer on the side for supplemental income. I enjoy my job as a writer, and I am very grateful of the publication I produce content for, as they have allowed me to maintain a flexible schedule and have afforded me the opportunity to be paid to do something I love. After learning about how AB 5 will not only affect my livelihood, but that of hundreds of thousands of other Californians, it makes me sick to my stomach.”
Austin
“I have been an independent contractor working as a court reporter for over 30 years. The opportunity to be an employee has always been available to me, but I chose freelancing because it afforded me the opportunity to put my family first, before my job.”
Susan
“I am an American Sign Language interpreter for the Deaf a majority of the work we do is as independent contractors since many locations only need our services occasionally. There is already a scarcity of qualified interpreters. This bill makes getting assignments covered even more difficult which means more Deaf people will be left without communication access.”
Julie
“I won’t be able to work as an American Sign Language interpreter. I work freelance and I have now been removed from all agencies I worked for in my capacity as interpreter.”
Maria
“AB 5 is detrimental to the well being of my Deaf clients as well as my right to earn a living the way I want to. I’m losing so much work because agencies can’t afford to keep all of their sign language interpreters on as employees.”
Stephanie
“I’m a freelance writer supporting myself and a family in Los Angeles, and AB5 directly impacts how I can do that, as well as thousands of my colleagues.”
Kelly
“With this law, I’d never have been able to make the short films I have in the past. For aspiring filmmakers trying to break in, this is death.”
Michael
“I’m a freelance language professional (translator) and my corporate clients are dropping my translation services starting this month.”
Claudia
“I have been a PR/Marketing Communications freelancer since 1992 and this legislation greatly impacts my ability to work.”
Jay
“This bill will devastate the services the Deaf community receive. Almost all the American Sign Language Interpreters that work in the community are Independent Contractors. We get the bulk of our work through agencies that work like clearing houses that send out the work. We set our pay and take the work if we want or don’t want.”
Hope
“I’m retired and at age 75 the freelance writing I do for several publications is an important supplemental income source for me and my family. I’m good at what I do and produce abut 200 articles a year. Yesterday I was notified that my work is being cut in half and I am losing one column entirely because I submit more than the arbitrary 35 to that publication.”
Ernie
“I currently serve the courts as a certified Interpreter (Independent Contractor). Interpreters were among the list of “losers” who did not get an exemption from AB5 and as a consequence, we are all in a state of chaos, knowing that the law makes it impossible for us to resume doing our work.”
Anthony
“I am an online English teacher hired as an independent contractor…In no way shape or form does it benefit me, in actuality it is detrimental to my financial well being.”
Katherine
“I have been a freelancer for 35 years and am in several areas of work, some of which are adversely affected by AB5. I’ve had as many as 15 1099s in some years – it’ll be impossible to have that many W-2s and I’ll not be able to deduct business expenses”
John
“I’m an older woman with two teaching credentials living in a small county who cannot find employment outside of independent contractor online teaching jobs. One company has already announced they will no longer contract with California teachers. I care for a disabled husband. I will lose my home if I cannot work for these companies.”
Jan
“I am independent contractor for multiple companies and have been for over 6 years. This allowed me to be at home to care for my elderly parents. Because companies would rather err on the side of caution and not deal with the headache I’m backed into a corner and going to have to take a job outside of the home again and just hope nothing happens to them while I’m 40+ hours a week!”
Katherine
“As a freelance journalist, this bill is devastating to me and my ability to earn enough money to support myself.”
Wendy
“I own and run a very small business as a postpartum doula and Lactation educator and I enjoy being independent and autonomous. AB 5 limits me if I need/want to hire people as my business grows.”
Jennifer
“The AB 5 law has now taken away my limited options for employment . I am not medically cleared to return to the workforce, I have problems standing and walking which severely impact my ability to find employment. My company as well as many other online teaching companies are now choosing to not work with California teachers. I have a bachelors degree as well as a teaching credential I am not a victim, I choose to work as an independent contractor because it is what suits my life best at this moment. AB 5 is taking away my choices and my livelihood away. I tried to apply to other companies and was told that they can no longer work with Californians, as of January 1, 2020 I will be unemployed and stand a chance of losing everything I have and becoming homeless because of this new law.”
Connie
“I am an independent contractor for a company based in China. They recently announced they are no longer partnering with new California independent contractors. The current CA contractors are feeling like our jobs are in jeopardy.”
Jessica
“I’m a freelance writer who writes dozens of pieces for various clients each month. I did my writing through a content mill, which has now blocked California writers from communicating with any new clients and is limiting us to 34 articles per year for the clients we already had. For perspective, I often wrote more than 34 articles per MONTH for ONE of my clients alone. I’m now losing these clients, many of whom I’ve worked with for years. I was incredibly happy with my work life prior to AB 5. I made enough money to satisfy my needs, and I was able to work when I wanted and take time off when I wanted, something I needed due to my chronic health problems.”
Andrea
“I am a freelance writer and filmmaker, and AB5 directly impacts my ability to work, and my ability to hire film crew members!”
Willow
“I have successfully been freelancing for over 20 years. My job has allowed me to care for my mother and raise my son. This legislation now has the potential to destroy my writing business and the businesses of many of my colleagues.”
Linda
“I am a professional in the photography and video industry. This bill is already costing me work as advertising agencies and clients are choosing to shoot out of state and hire non-Californians. I hold a degree in film production and have spent my entire career building a list of clients so that I can remain flexible to take care of my family and spend time with my husband who is a first responder.”
Nicole
“I’m a freelance writer who’s worked for a decade at my craft. AB 5 has essentially left me without any work.”
Amy
“Musician. Multiple venues stating they’re worried about hiring live entertainment until the details regarding AB5 are ‘sorted out’.”
Richard
“Software engineer contractor was my previous job and I loved it. Now AB 5 took it away.”
Hsiao-Yu
“It takes away job flexibility for my sons to work while they are in college.”
Catherine
“I am the owner of a pediatric therapy company. We provide work to approximately 40 ICs who want to see a few clients in addition to their full time jobs. This law would force me to let go of all 40 ICs as I cannot afford to pay them.”
Ryan
“I am currently working as a freelance food delivery driver and if this bad law is not appealed, then I would lose my livelihood and trying to find a good paying job at the age of 54 is nearly impossible due to age discrimination.”
Karen
“As a stay at home mother of three I rely on being an independent contractor and working from home. AB 5 hurts my family, it takes food off our tables and necessities for my children.”
Carla
“There is no way my clients are going to hire me as an employee to work on sporadic projects during the year, so I will lose the ability to augment my social security and I’m not eligible for SNAP benefits. I’m 67 years old, on Social Security and if I can’t find a full time job at this point, I can’t pay the rent and eat!”
Janet
“I am an actor, singer, and storyteller, active throughout San Diego County. AB 5 is impacting my ability to work.”
Walter
“I am a freelance musician and teacher living in Los Angeles. Much of my performance income is non-Union and I am hired to perform for each organization maybe once or twice a year. I am very concerned that my performance income will dry up, given the vast majority of arts organizations will not be able to comply with AB5 and make musicians employees, nor does that make any sense given the business model.”
Rachel
“I am a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with 23 years of experience in my field. Since starting a family, I have enjoyed the flexibility of working as a private contractor. Because of AB 5, this is no longer possible.”
Rebekah
“I’ve already lost two writing jobs and I’m on the verge of losing a third. I will have no income source. I’ve lived in California my entire life, but am considering moving to Nevada.”
Christine
“I am a sign language interpreter and have worked self employed for almost 20 years. This impacts my livelihood by not letting agencies give me work.”
Gail
“I am a freelance musician. Some of the theater companies I work for are either cancelling shows or having to make some adjustments that are not sustainable in the long run.”
Nicolas
“AB 5, within a week of it’s implementation, has already destroyed countless jobs in CA. As a music professional it has the potential to put me out of business and decimate my industry.”
Scott
“I’m a certified court interpreter. I have been freelancing for 15 years and very happy doing that. What I like about freelancing is that I only work for the good agencies (that pay well), I can work as much or as little as I want to spend time with my 3 year old. This law is destroying my wonderful work/life combo.”
Marina
“My husband and I are both freelance professionals. Both of us have taken a huge financial hit. We have 3 children to provide for.”
Robin
“I’m a self-employed freelance composer working from home, making just barely enough to survive. On occasion I will hire musicians to come in and do recording, doesn’t make sense to have them be an employee if I only hire them for a few hours at a time.”
George
“I just moved to California from the east coast. I work in film/media production, and Los Angeles is a “gig based” economy particularly in the film industry! I can’t find regular work now as I was already making near minimum wage as a Production Assistant (though I’m not struggling to pay rent by any means, as with typical overtime the pay levels out well). Positioning myself as an S-corp or LLC to jump through hoops for this law will cost more than it would benefit me. I’m now forced to look for full-time jobs (which are scarce!) just to avoid dealing with AB 5.”
Marisa
“I’ve been a freelance writer and editor for 25 years. Working freelance has allowed me to raise my daughter from the day she came home from the hospital to the present (she’s 10), pick and choose both the work I do and the hours and days I do it, and work with incredible employers who have (with very few exceptions) ALWAYS had my best interests at heart. AB5 will force me to leave jobs that I’ve held for over a decade and join a growing pool of other freelancers who are grabbing at the few freelance jobs that will be left for us.”
Paul
“AB 5 has impacted my life. I am self employed by choice. I do not want to be an employee nor do I want to lose my tax exemptions as a company. I should not be forced into employment relationships with my clients, most of which will not hire me anymore if they are forced to become my employers. This law will destroy my business.”
Marlene
“I am an ASL interpreter and work for several agencies. By being able to work for different agencies I can meet the needs of the Deaf community . With this bill I would no longer be able to work as I do and the Deaf community would suffer.”
Tracy
“As a freelance court reporter, AB 5 has upended my career. I have been working as an independent contractor since January of 1992. I WANT to be an independent contractor. In any given year, I can work with 10, 15, 20, even 30 different agencies to help cover calendar. Some I may only work for once. Some a handful of times. I do not want to be an employee of any of the agencies. I want to set my own hours, what depositions I choose to report, where I choose to work.”
Susan
“I am a freelance writer based in L.A. A couple years ago, I started freelancing – a change that allowed me to work from my own home, on my own hours, and own schedule. I now write for multiple publications and companies and, for the first time, feel in control of my mental health and livelihood. AB 5 threatens this and the thought of giving up my business devastates me. My work means everything to me. It is not a question – if AB5 were to take my work away, I’d have to move. It simply would not be an option to stay here.”
Julia
“I’m a freelance musician and a realtor. I’m 90% self employed. ALL of my freelance work is independently contracted and I have over 30+ clients and vendors (annually) who I provide services for. THIS LAW DOES NOT HELP ME. In turn, it actually makes it very difficult for me to do any sort of work for these 30+ clients without them having to provide benefits for me.”
Nikki
“I’m a 67-year-old grandmother living on Social Security. Up until Jan 1st I was also an online transcriptionist earning approx $200 a month in much needed additional income. I love the work and it is a perfect fit for work-from-home situations, however due to AB 5, California residents were dropped by the world-wide company I was working for.”
Deborah
With the implementation of AB5, I, as a musician, producer, and contractor, will not be hiring anyone this year so long as AB5 is in effect. I cannot afford the added expenses. Additionally, several companies I work for l are struggling to determine how to remain afloat as they are service based and do not bring in hefty profits beyond what the team members are paid.”
Ryland
“As a freelance court reporter, I choose when to work, what jobs to take, and how to transcribe testimony. I do not want to be an employee. As a new mom I can tell agencies that I only want afternoon work or only morning work, or that I only want to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As an employee, I would not get to pick a schedule that works for me.”
Jessica
“As a Single mom of 3, I depend on all my freelance work that I get medical interpreting to help meet ends. I make just enough to cover all my bills.”
Nelly
“I am an independent musician, and I run the Non-profit community orchestra, Southland Symphony. We are attempting to shift to a model to comply, but there is a very real chance that we will not be able to sustain our operation with these new costs and requirements. We provide music for our community, provide free admission to our concerts for those who cannot afford tickets, perform for several city events each year, and more. But we may not be able to continue unless this bill is repealed.”
Sylvia
“I’m a freelance composer in the film industry and consistently employ musicians throughout the year, in addition to my own freelance employment. If this comes down as onerous as it appears to be, I will have not choice but to leave the state I was born and raised in and/or increase my employment of oversea musicians and out of state musicians.”
John
“I am a freelance court reporter in California. We are not part of the gig economy. We are highly trained and skilled and work for various court reporting firms, law firms and courthouses. We make our own schedule and accept the work we choose. We are no way employees with the many firms we work for. Classifying freelance court reporters as employees will affect our livelihood in a negative way.”
Danielle
“I am a freelance licensed stenographer/court reporter licensed by the state of California. AB5 will impact my livelihood in so many ways. I choose to be an independent contractor.”
Jamie
“I have been a self employed sign language interpreter for 40 years. If I have to follow AB 5, I wouldn’t been able to work anymore, since I’m getting close to retirement age. I love my work, I love choosing my own schedule, and interpreters are in high demand.”
Jennifer
“I am a freelance court reporter, licensed by the State of California. I have been an independent contractor for 25 years, business license issued by City of San Diego. My clients are reporting agencies. I choose my assignments, negotiate my own rates, provide my own equipment, set my own schedule, and invoice over 30 clients (agencies) a year. I am now being told by my clients that they cannot do business with me unless I incorporate. I am a sole proprietor and have decided a corporation is not best for me, but I will be driven into bankruptcy if I don’t.”
Tricia
“I have two children to support and AB 5 would be financially detrimental for my family. The ability to be an independent and name my own rates has allowed me to make ends meet to support my family.”
Candi
“I have spent most of my adult life creating a career as a freelance writer. I have non-traditional skills that would prevent me from being hired by a newspaper but I have a longterm newspaper client for just this reason, I have skills staff writers do not have. If I were to lose this gig (about 110 articles a year), everything, including my ability to write books (I’ve written 24 so far) would fall apart.”
Michele Ann
“I am a freelance press photographer. The 35 submission cap silences me.”
Vivien
“I may be losing my job as an independent contractor doing transcribing for almost 30 years. AB5 is life-destroying.”
Lorraine
“I am a Certified Shorthand Reporter in the State I’d California who will be adversely affected by AB5. As a licensed professional, I do not want or need to be classified as an employee since I work for many agencies reporting depositions and court hearings and can set my own rates and job schedule.”
Elizabeth
“I am a freelance sign language interpreter. AB5 only hurts my profession by not allowing us the flexibility we need to be able to create and manage our own schedules to accept the jobs we need and are qualified for. We do not wish to work as employees nor will that structure fit how our career operates. It will likely drive up service costs while we are paid less which will hurts thousands of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals who will not be able to get adequate services or any services at all. We could be pushed out of state to even find adequate work which will worsen the issue that we don’t have enough qualified interpreters to fill all areas of need.”
Kristen
“I am a Certified Shorthand Reporter. For my whole career, 24 years, I’ve been an independent contractor. I love being independent. I accept/decline work as it fits into my life and my family’s life.”
Lisa
Paid for by Kevin Kiley for Assembly 2020. FPPC ID# 1414222
My Story
I stand with workers against AB 5.
Please add my name and let Assemblyman Kevin Kiley know that I support a worker’s Right to Earn a Living.