Are independent workers too diverse for their own good?

Coworking recap: 1) Coworking is a phenomenon where independent workers work alongside other independent workers informally (via Jellys) or formally, by renting various configurations of office space for various denominations of time (by the hour, day, month, etc). 2) There is something of a coworking movement that promotes new ways to work for independent workers and values like flexibility, community, openness, and sustainability–though I’m still trying to figure out who makes up the movement and where it’s headed.

watch?v=DLGiLBmY63g

Before we get to the movement, let’s consider who, exactly, it is that coworks. Are there commonalities among coworkers, and independent workers more broadly, that might bind them together–perhaps in a way that’s meaningful for a collective movement–or are they just a hodge-podge of people with completely different interests? Who are these people?

Well, to date at “LA Co.” I’ve met a real estate developer, an SEO start-up team, a patent attorney, a marketing consultant, an acupuncturist-in-training/writer, a headhunter/writer, a handful of screenwriters, a reality TV producer, a media start-up, an architect, an education consultant, a couple non-profit groups, a documentary film maker, a software developer, a life coach “in the hip-hop vein,” a trader, an iPhone app developer, a dating, um, “consultant,” and some PR peeps. Give or take.

As you can see, it’s an eclectic mix. Some people have degrees from Ivy League universities, some never went to college. Some dress to impress, while others roll in wearing sweats and a t-shirt. The parking lot sees everything from beat-up Honda civics to shiny BMWs. Some people take the bus. And even though it’s LA, I’ve met at least one person who bikes and one that, gasp, walks. Demographically, they’re pretty diverse, ranging in age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and family background. The one thing everyone seems to have in common is that they work for themselves.*

On the one hand, the diversity of interests and identities is what makes coworking such a dynamic experience. In our Facebook-friend cloistered culture, we’re rarely around people that aren’t just like us anymore–and if we are, we’re probably listening to our iPods anyway. You can learn a lot from people with different backgrounds and viewpoints; coworking lets you take advantage of that. On the other hand, this diversity might explain why there isn’t much collective action among independent workers, even though approximately one-third of the U.S. workforce is independent and many face similar issues, like lack of stable income, health care benefits and other worker protections, and representation.

Sociologists have had a long love-affair with the idea of class interests. Proletariat vs. bourgeoisie, worker vs. capitalist. As far as independent workers go, it seems a bit more complicated. Still, it’s probably not a coincidence that as independent (also known as flexible, contingent, short-term, alternative) work becomes increasingly common, so do groups, businesses, and organizations oriented specifically to the needs of this group. Glimmer of class formation or a fad with the lifespan of, say, skinny jeans? You tell me.

*Okay, even that isn’t completely true, because some people have interns, assistants, and even an employee or two. I’m going to ignore those people for now.)