On October 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding how to determine whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor. After an extension, that comment period finally closed this week. The DOL has continued its flip-flopping on this issue. You may recall on September 22, 2020 (during
Employee Misclassification
As Expected, DOL Withdraws Trump Administration Independent Contractor Status Rule
Well…I hate to say I called it but…on May 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule at 86 FR 24303, withdrawing the Independent Contractor Status rule issued January 7, 2021. As you may recall, that rule was set to change the test as to whether a worker was an…
DOL Postpones Final Rule Regarding New Economic Reality Test for Independent Contractors
*UPDATE – THE FINAL RULE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN MAY 6, 2021.
Regardless of whether you call it a teeter totter or seesaw, the DOL continues its ups and downs with its interpretations of important laws. You may recall my January 7, 2021 post reminding all y’all of the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) final rule…
DOL Withdraws Several Opinion Letters Issued Under Trump Administration
I know you’re thinking, what possibly can a turtle hiding in his shell have to do with wage and hour law?! Since the Biden Administration has begun, several Department of Labor (DOL) opinion letters have been withdrawn (get it yet?) by the DOL (and are no longer assessable). In this instance, they may no…
DOL Issues Final Rule Regarding Employee or Independent Contractor Analysis – Suggests Approval of Paying Benefits to Independent Contractors
*UPDATE – THE FINAL RULE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN MAY 6, 2021.
As I blogged about a few months ago, on September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule simplifying the test to determine whether a worker is considered an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an…
DOL Issues Proposed Rule Regarding Independent Contractor Status Under FLSA
On September 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposed rule simplifying the test to determine whether a worker is considered an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an “independent contractor”. In short, the proposed rule uses the “economic reality” test as the basis for whether a worker is…
DOL Issues New Rule for Determining Joint Employers Under FLSA
*UPDATE – THE FINAL RULE WAS RESCINDED JULY 30, 2021 AND IS NO LONGER LAW.
So this is exciting! No, really, it is! As you know, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the employee of one company can be found to be a “joint employee” of another, making both jointly and severally liable for…
DOL Weighs In: Employee or Independent Contractor?
In the 6th letter of 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued Opinion Letter FLSA2019-6, which analyzes whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor. While opinion letters are specific to the employer that has sought the letter, they provide useful insight for all employers. In this opinion letter, the DOL states…
DOL Issues Proposed Rule Clarifying “Joint Employer” Under Four Part Test
On April 1, 2019, the DOL issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), relating to whether two or more entities are “joint employers” for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This arrangement becomes significant when determining overtime for an individual who does not work overtime at either employer, but combined, does (and thus,…
NLRB Reinstates Common Law Independent Contractor Test
On January 25, 2019, the National Labor Relations Board flopped again in SuperShuttle DFW, Inc., reinstating the pre-2014 common law agency test for determining independent-contractor status (overruling FedEx Home Delivery). Why is this important if you are not a unionized employer? Well, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) does not require the same…