Welcome to Axis ProRata, where we take just 10 minutes to get you smarter on the collision of tech,

business, and politics. I'm Dan for Mac. On today's show, Zoom's new security problem and corporate

America gets a return-to-work reality check. But first, the essential workers bill of rights.

That's the name of a new proposal from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and California

Congressman Roe Kana, which would create new requirements for companies involved in essential

services, everything from health care to grocery stores to gig economy drivers to child care.

So far, this is more a bullet point list of principles than legislative text, with Warren

and Kana asking that it either evolve into law as a standalone bill or be incorporated into the so-called phase-for stimulus plan.

Among the proposals tent polls are adequate protective equipment, which would be free of charge to workers, hazard pay, retroactive to the start of the crisis, universal paid sick leave, whistleblower protections, health care coverage for the

uninsured, and other protections for unions and unionization efforts. It's a lot. But the sponsors

argue that this is the moment when typically invisible workers have a giant spotlight shown upon

them, and that now is when Americans might support proposals for people who they might otherwise

ignore.

But again, it is a lot, particularly given all the other balls that Congress and essential businesses are currently trying to juggle. So let's dig in with Representative Roecona

of California's 17th District, which covers much of Silicon Valley. So, Congressman,

why introduce this essential workers bill of rights now as opposed to, say, either a little bit

earlier or maybe wait until the phase four stimulus is really under negotiation?

Well, it needs to be part of the phase four stimulus. Here's the reality. 16 million Americans

are still working. If you think, how are we having this Zoom conversation? Are people going to work to keep the internet running, to keep electricity flowing, to

deliver groceries, to make sure that people are still getting medicine, to care for the sick?

And they need to be treated with dignity. They need to have hazard pay. They need to be kept

safe. They need to make sure they have child care. This is essential.

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