Employers often ask, “Can this worker be an independent contractor?” The answer is often unclear due to the different tests for employee versus independent contractor status, which vary between federal circuit courts and from state to state. In the end, the answer typically depends on how much risk the employer is willing to take. In
Independent Contractors
New Reality? DOL Publishes Proposed Rule on Independent Contractor Status
By T. Matthew Miller & Anne R. Yuengert on
Whether a worker is an employee covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (and potentially entitled to overtime pay or benefits) or an independent contractor who is not covered has been the center of an ongoing legal battle for many years. Most recently, it has been a key issue for those in the growing…
Sixth Circuit Scrubs Attempted Snub of Arbitration of Grubhub Paystub Hubbub
By J. William Manuel & Anne R. Yuengert on
There have been many examples of the tension between the “gig economy” and traditional labor laws. Most of the companies like Uber or Grubhub choose to classify their drivers as independent contractors instead of employees, which eliminates obligations like overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Sixth Circuit this week dealt with such a…