Under Presssure: How New Policies Could Hurt Professionals, Clients — and Trust

In recent months, there’s been a noticeable shift in how government actions and public rhetoric are treating white-collar professionals — including doctors, professors, consultants, and implementers. The goal of many new initiatives may be fairness, but the unintended consequences could reach far beyond the professions themselves.

What’s Changing?
Several new rules and proposals suggest increasing pressure on highly skilled professionals:
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• Attempts to ban non-compete agreements across industries, like the FTC’s now-blocked rule (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).
• Moves to reclassify independent contractors as employees, impacting consultants, freelance experts, and specialized advisors (Department of Labor Rule, 2024).
• Political rhetoric criticizing credentialed professionals, fostering distrust toward fields like healthcare, academia, and consulting.

While some reform is needed, many of these efforts risk weakening industries that rely on specialized expertise — especially in critical sectors like healthcare, finance, education, and technology.

Why This Matters (More Than Just to Consultants)
​The effects could be wide-reaching:

• Higher Costs: If hiring independent experts becomes harder or riskier, businesses and hospitals may face higher prices for essential services.
• Lower Quality and Greater Risk: Without access to flexible, skilled consultants, organizations may struggle with compliance, innovation, and managing complexity — creating openings for fraud, waste, and abuse (GAO Report).
• Shrinking Expertise Pools: Professionals who value independence might exit heavily regulated fields, leaving fewer experts where they’re needed most.

These changes could ripple through the economy at a time when knowledge and adaptability are more important than ever.

How Can We Get this Right?
Instead of blanket restrictions, a smarter path would focus on:

• Tailoring rules to industries: Don’t treat an industry consultant the same as a gig worker.
• Protecting true independence: Allow skilled professionals the choice to work flexibly.
• Supporting client needs: Recognize that many organizations depend on independent advisors to stay compliant, efficient, and innovative.

A Personal Note
As someone who works in the world of consulting and technical services, I believe strongly in ethical practice, client value, and adaptability. I’m not opposed to reform. But reforms that undermine professional independence could end up hurting not just consultants — but the industries and communities we serve. In a complex world, expertise isn’t a problem to be solved — it’s a solution we need to protect.

Sources You Can Read:

•  U.S. Chamber on FTC Non-Compete Ban Opposition

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• Department of Labor Final Rule on Contractor Classification

• GAO: Risks of Reduced Expertise

• Financial Times Coverage on FTC Non-Compete Ban Legal Challenge​​

A Quick Note on the FTC’s Non-Compete Rule
In April 2024, the FTC finalized a sweeping ban on most non-compete agreements. However, after legal challenges, enforcement of the rule was blocked by a federal court later that year — and the current administration has signaled it may not defend the rule on appeal (FT.com Report). Even so, the attempt reflected a broader trend: increasing skepticism toward independent professional models.