The "sharing economy" is still in its infancy
but steadily establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with.
It's generally defined as a socio-economic ecosystem where
human and physical resources are shared. Put simply, it's about
sharing stuff like cars (Uber) and accommodation (Airbnb) when the
owner decides the resource is available, for a fee.
While the business model is evolving, the law is typically
lagging behind. The challenge for the "sharing economy"
is working out how it can comply with the law while retaining the
flexibility (and cost efficiency) it requires.
Deciding how to engage the workforce is one area of significant
challenge given the workplace relations legislation heavily
regulates the forms of engagement available. Broadly speaking,
these can be divided into two categories; employees or contractors.
There are pros and cons with each and neither seems to provide a
perfect fit.
