COVID-19 is taking an obvious toll on Santa Claus’ ability to visit with children this year. But in California, there’s another thing stopping St. Nicholas from spreading Christmas cheer: Assembly Bill 5, or AB5.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, the state law forces employers to hire people like Santa Claus, a man who traditionally works as an independent contractor, as a formal employee with sick leave, health care, employment protections and more. While the measure intended to help Santa and other freelance workers secure new benefits, the law is having the opposite effect, leaving him — as well as thousands of other California independent contractors — out in the cold.
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