Worker Misclassification

On May 7, 2015, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Labor. Like the MOU between the U.S. Department of Labor and states like Alabama, California, Florida, and Massachusetts, Rhode Island’s agreement was created to battle employee misclassification. State agencies in Rhode Island Read more

The state of Wisconsin has joined forces with the U.S. Department of Labor to reduce misclassification of employees. The goal is to prevent and reduce the misclassification of independent contractors or other nonemployee statuses by having agencies work together. Under the agreement, state and federal agencies can share resources and information, as well as conduct Read more

Florida is the latest state to join the U.S. Department of Labor’s Misclassification Initiative developed to reduce and prevent the practice of misclassification of employees. Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, Utah and Washington are other states that have joined their agencies to protect the rights Read more

The U.S. Department of Labor and New Hampshire Department of Labor have signed an agreement to protect workers’ rights by focusing on the misclassification of employees. Under this agreement, both government agencies will share information to ensure law compliance, and if necessary, coordinate law enforcement. The direct communication aims to prevent and restore the rights Read more

Many small businesses rely on independent contractors for their staffing needs, but doing so raises special concerns. Independent contractors, by definition, are self-employed and because they are not employees, independent contractors are not covered by employment, labor, and related tax laws. There are many benefits to hiring independent contractors such as savings in labor costs, Read more

Progress is being made in the fight against employee misclassification, most recently in the District of Columbia. Employee misclassification is the practice of labeling workers as independent contractors, rather than employees. Misclassification is unfair to law-abiding employers that pay unemployment insurance taxes and provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. They also face a competitive Read more

The Illinois Department of Employment Security has announced a new initiative to hold employers that misclassify workers as independent contractors accountable. An independent contractor is considered to be self-employed, not an employee of the business or businesses with which they work. Therefore, misclassifying employers do not pay unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation for these workers. Read more

The State of New Hampshire’s recent labor law change is a big deal. Make sure you’ve got this requirement covered. An updated Whistleblowers’ Protection Act poster with mandatory-to-post changes has been released by Compliance Poster Company. Changes affect both private and public employers. Update with a Peel N Post if you already have the mandatory Read more

Louisiana Employment Security Law was recently amended to require EVERY employer to post a state-mandated notice regarding misclassification of employees as independent contractors. The new “Independent Contractor or Employee?” posting advises all employees, employers, independent contractors and subcontractors of: Factors that describe independent contractors, Rights regarding unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits, Employee protections from retaliation, Read more