The Weekly Independent: January 16, 2017

Staying on top of your field means staying ahead of the biggest news stories. That’s why each week we bring you The Weekly Independent, a quick-hit digest of news of note from around the web.

• Many consultants made their last 2016 quarterly tax payment last week. Here are 5 easy ways to make filing less taxing.
• Well-rounded, highly developed soft skills can be invaluable to business success. Learn how to improve yours in this blog post.

• One out of every 5 Obamacare customers—1.4 million people—was a small-business owner, self-employed, or both in 2014, the first year Affordable Care Act plans were available, a report issued last week revealed.
• A new bill drafted by gig economy player Handy would allow enterprises to subsidize benefit plans for their independent workers.
• Looking to get new clients this year? Referrals are a great way to start. Here’s how  you should go about obtaining them.
• Fast Company explores what’s in store for freelancers under President Trump.
• The EEOC is creating a framework to reprimand companies that attempt to avoid certain employment liabilities by misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees.
• Is 2017 the year companies embrace the gig economy?
• A London-based bicycle courier has won the right to be classed as an employee rather than self-employed, which entitles her to employee rights such as holiday pay and minimum wage, reports BBC.

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