I. Foundational Principle: Work as a Cornerstone of Freedom

Work is one of the most essential forms of participation in society. It offers income, purpose, and dignity — and connects people to their communities and the economy.

Yet today, our systems for enabling work are fragmented. Compliance requirements, outdated paperwork, and jurisdictional silos make it unnecessarily difficult for individuals and businesses to connect.

Where the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution unlocked the free movement of goods, the modern era calls for a framework that enables the free movement of work — where every qualified individual can contribute, regardless of location, and every business can hire confidently, regardless of complexity.

II. The Problem: Employment Without Infrastructure

The United States has built incredible systems for financial exchange, communication, and transportation — but not for employment compliance.

• States, industries, and agencies all maintain separate requirements for hiring.
• Employers face redundant verification, paperwork, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Workers lose opportunities because compliance processes are slow, confusing, or inconsistent.
• Small businesses and startups hesitate to hire due to regulatory uncertainty.

The result is a fragmented labor market that stifles mobility, delays opportunity, and adds hidden costs to the economy.

III. The Vision: Freedom to Work Infrastructure

The solution is not new regulation — it is modern infrastructure. By connecting existing systems through shared standards, we can make compliance simple, portable, and transparent.

The guiding principles:

Efficiency through Clarity

Simplify compliance through digital standards and automation.

Local Rules, National Reach

Preserve state sovereignty while enabling interoperable hiring.

Worker Empowerment

Give individuals control over their credentials and records.

Transparency and Trust

Build systems that verify without surveilling.

IV. The Framework: Four Pillars of Work Mobility

1. Portable Work Record

A secure, worker-controlled credential containing verified employment eligibility, tax elections, and compliance attestations.

→ Reusable, interoperable, and recognized by employers nationwide.

2. Compliance Network

A digital infrastructure that enables verified data exchange between employers, agencies, and trusted partners — replacing redundant paperwork with structured, auditable information.

3. Employment Portability Standard

A framework that allows state-specific compliance rules to remain intact while ensuring interoperability across borders — making it possible for a worker verified in one state to be hired in another seamlessly.

4. Open Compliance Marketplace

A system where employers and technology partners can access pre-vetted services (identity, tax, background checks, training) through standardized APIs — fostering innovation and choice.

V. The Outcome: A More Dynamic and Trustworthy Labor Market

When compliance becomes infrastructure, work becomes accessible.

• Employers hire faster and more confidently.
• Workers access opportunity without administrative barriers.
• States and agencies maintain oversight through transparent, digital processes.
• Compliance errors, fraud, and inefficiency decline.

The result: A more connected, resilient, and inclusive workforce.

VI. Onboarded's Role: Building the Rails for Work

Onboarded is creating the digital infrastructure that makes lawful employment effortless — a foundation of trust that connects people, businesses, and governments.

Through its Compliance Library, Policy Engine, and Form Builder, Onboarded translates complex laws and obligations into structured, verifiable workflows that anyone can use.

This is not about deregulation — it's about digitizing regulation, so compliance is accessible, automatic, and human-centered.

"When compliance becomes infrastructure, opportunity becomes limitless."— Onboarded Policy Vision, 2025

VII. Call to Action: The Freedom to Work Compact

We invite policymakers, business leaders, and technology innovators to join in shaping the Freedom to Work Compact — a public-private effort to:

• Create interoperable digital standards for employment compliance.
• Empower workers with portable, verified credentials.
• Help businesses hire compliantly without friction.

Let's build a workforce infrastructure that is as mobile as the people it serves.

Let's ensure every person who can contribute has the freedom to work anywhere their skills are needed — simply, securely, and lawfully.‍