TheLaborDAO
{"type": "project", "title": "TheLaborDAO", "website": "https://TheLaborDAO.com", "bannerImg": "bafkreibm4iujrzjykfwyzgsmrg4otm5yemz2jqncmti322nledlpp74x5y", "createdAt": 1743459037166, "credentials": {}, "description": "[LaborDAO](https://https://cointelegraph.com/podcasts/the-agenda/1-year-later-catching-up-with-cryptonauts-labordao-nym-and-wetspace) has been actively researching the Web3 workforce ecosystem encompassing both workers and management and now recognizes an opportune moment to establish a clear standard for compensation and compliance. Our focus is on developing a framework for sustainable and replicable labor practices that support Ethereum-based companies, delegates, and individual contributors alike, ensuring a fair and robust framework for all stakeholders in the Web3 space.\n\nLeveraging our extensive background in traditional labor-management space and the DAO space, we are committed to empowering founders and builders in the Ethereum ecosystem by translating our insights into sustainable frameworks for compensation and compliance.\n\nPlanning and issuing compensation in Web3 is one of the most challenging aspects of building a successful organization. Projects face the difficult task of providing a fair and transparent compensation scheme to a transnational team, all while adhering to the labor, tax, and privacy laws of each respective jurisdiction within which they operate. Ensuring tax compliance and offering sustainable worker benefits are further complicated by projects’ need to issue compensation in native tokens to align long-term incentives between contributors, delegates, and projects.\n\nSimultaneously, the flexibility, mobility, and borderless nature of crypto enable new opportunities for compensation experiments and creative approaches to valuing contributions. This opens the door to conversations around sustainable labor practices, particularly for developers and infrastructure projects. In an ecosystem where compensation often depends on grants, bounties, and project-based funding – rather than traditional employment structures– developers are increasingly navigating how to ensure financial stability and long-term sustainability for themselves.\n\nLaborDAO has been closely studying the Web 3 labor space and thus we understand by experience that this is an opportune time to create a standard for compensation and compliance in Web 3, focusing on developing sustainable labor practices for both companies, delegates, and individual contributors. In 2023, the LaborDAO team completed a draft of the State of Compensation in Web 3 Report [Web 3 Report](https://docs.google.com/document/d/19f0cuJ8jzNGw9U2y0OHpubiMNoKb_ged99I_BSdLA4E/edit?tab=t.0), surveying new innovations in compensation technology. The draft included feedback from reputable organizations, leaders, VC investors, and builders across the Web3 space.\n\nA more comprehensive research package that includes more updated interviews focused on compensation and compliance with organizations and people around the Ethereum ecosystem.\nA scalable compensation and compliance framework for Ethereum developers and web3 founders, and builders to use when starting a new organization.\nA road map to building a sustainable and scalable business model to serve the Ethereum ecosystem to become more sustainable, fair, and transparent.\n\nThis research proposal seeks to examine and enhance labor-management practices within Ethereum and the emerging Web3 ecosystem. Specifically, our study will explore innovative strategies for management leaders to align compensation structures with regional economic realities, ensuring that payment systems are both equitable and reflective of local living standards. By fostering improved transparency regarding financial runway and securing sustainable grants, we anticipate a marked increase in workforce retention. Furthermore, our research will facilitate the development of novel ideas aimed at preemptively resolving conflicts and mitigating systemic challenges, such as pay inequities and the attrition of labor during market downturns. Integral to our approach is the establishment of robust feedback mechanisms, designed to continuously monitor and address disparities in pay and work conditions. Ultimately, these targeted improvements promise to strengthen the resilience and overall efficacy of the Web3 ecosystem.\n\n\nAbout our team:\n\n[Dr. Phela Townsend](https://www.linkedin.com/in/phelatownsend) is a researcher focused on labor, compensation, governance, employment relations, broad-based capital/employee ownership, and the future of work and employment. Dr. Townsend works with universities, NGOs, labor unions, foundations, and public agencies to identify and develop strategies that address health inequities, improve outcomes, and promote equity-centered care. Her focus is on strengthening institutional capacity, aligning policy and practice, and facilitating cross-sector collaboration.\nTownsend also contributes to The Capitol Forum’s coverage and analysis on dominant digital platforms and market competition.  Dr. Townsend holds a PhD in Industrial Relations/ Human Resources from Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, a Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial & Labor Relations from Cornell University.\n\n[Larry Williams Jr.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFnzXdm4gfw) , the co-founder of LaborDAO, is a dynamic business leader and advocate for workers. As a former union president, Larry championed workers' rights and climate justice at the Sierra Club. Larry led his union to successful landmark negotiations and served as Executive Director of two national non-profits. His creative spirit led him to found groundbreaking union education and Web3 organizations recognized internationally. With expertise in technology and a passion for the labor movement, he bridges the gap between cutting-edge solutions and real-world impact.\n\nHazel Devjani, the co-founder of LaborDAO, is a governance researcher and community builder. She helps with community and research at DAOstar, and leads operations and standards building for the Asia-Pacific Region. Previously, she did research with DAOstar on the State of M&A, researched with LaborDAO on the state of compensation in Web 3, and was part of a team of Metagov researchers that developed d20, a Discord governance bot.", "bannerImgData": {}, "projectTwitter": "thelabordao"}