Employees vs. Independent Contractors: DOL Proposes Rule Revision
On October 13, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a proposed rule to revise existing guidance on how to determine whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The DOL intends to rescind an earlier rule and replace it with an analysis for determining employee vs. independent contractor status that’s more consistent with the FLSA as interpreted by longstanding judicial precedent.
Earlier rule
The earlier rule was published on January 7, 2021, by the DOL under the Trump administration. It addressed the distinction between employees and independent contractors under the FLSA using two core factors of the economic realities test:
- The nature and degree of the worker’s control over the work, and
- The worker’s opportunity for profit or loss based on initiative and/or investment.
Under the 2021 rule — which took effect on March 8, 2021, and remains in effect — these factors weigh more than other considerations when determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor.
Opponents have argued that the 2021 rule runs counter to established court rulings on the matter. The DOL under the current Biden administration issued rules in 2021 to delay and withdraw the rule, but they were vacated by a federal district court on March 14, 2022.
Proposed rule
The DOL said that its newly proposed rule would reduce the risk that employees are misclassified as independent contractors and provide added certainty for employers that hire independent contractors or might consider doing so.
The agency further stated that it issued the proposed rule because it believes the 2021 rule doesn’t fully comport with the FLSA’s text and purpose as interpreted by courts, and it departs from decades of case law applying the “economic reality” test.
The proposed rule, according to the DOL, doesn’t use the two core factors. Rather, it aims to return to a “totality of the circumstances” analysis of the economic reality test. Under this analysis, the factors don’t have a predetermined weight and are considered in view of the economic reality of the whole activity.
Thereby, the proposed rule provides multiple factors to be considered when determining worker status. These include:
- Whether investments by a worker are capital or entrepreneurial in nature,
- The nature and degree of control an employer has over the working relationship, and
- Whether work performed is an integral part of the employer’s operations.
The DOL notes that no single factor under the proposed rule will be dispositive, and additional factors may be considered.
Opposition rising
Interested parties have until November 28, 2022, to submit comments on the proposed rule. As of this writing, several business groups — including the National Retail Federation and the National Association of Home Builders — have voiced opposition to it. They’ve cited issues such as the likelihood of “endless litigation,” insufficient time to retrain HR staff and lack of clarity in the rule itself. Contact us for further information on employee classification and help with compliance.
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