Washington Post (09/27/13) Lydia DePillis

In a recent interview, Carl Camden, chief executive officer of Kelly Services, expressed frustration that the nation must once again deal with the debt limit issue and talked about how the current economic climate makes it difficult to grow a business in the U.S. He also discussed changes in the employment model, in which more people become independent contractors and consultants. “We’re quickly drifting back to the way employment has historically been in this country, a nation of craftsmen, tradesmen, independent workers,” Camden said. “Younger people are mostly independent contractors, they work two or three jobs, and they like to.”

Camden added that the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchanges, among other things, could “make it easier for temporary workers to overcome the discrimination they face.” However, he is uncertain whether the law will work, because lawmakers have been more focused on defunding it than on trying to fix the flaws.

New York Times (09/30/13) Abby Goodnough

Oct. 1 marks the launch of new online insurance exchanges enabling Americans to shop for health plans and determine if they qualify for federal subsidies. However, officials nationwide warn that their systems will not be ready for weeks or even months. For example, Nevada’s Spanish-language version of the exchange will not be functional until mid-November, while in Maryland, small businesses will not be able to purchase insurance for their employees through the state exchange until January. Exchanges that are federally run are encountering similar problems.

Chattanooga Times Free Press (09/27/13) Mike Pare

The United Auto Workers has denied charges that it misled some Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, TN, into forfeiting their rights by signing union authorization cards. Lawyers for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which represents the workers, say UAW told the workers that the signatures were to call for a secret-ballot vote.

UAW allegedly wants Volkswagen to allow union representation based on the cards it has collected instead of a secret-ballot vote. The U.S. National Labor Relations Board is investigating.