Independent Contractor vs. Employee

Independent Contractor vs. Employee:
How to Comply and Avoid the Crackdown

Independent contractor status has exploded during the pandemic, along with the misclassification risks.

The most basic question about the employment relationship, whether a worker is an “employee” or “independent contractor,” has baffled HR and employers for years. You can save big on taxes, benefits, and liability by using contractors, but the risk of misclassifying them is huge and getting worse.

The pandemic, vaccine mandates, and the remote-work trend have caused more employers to explore independent-contractor status. Yet misclassification can be expensive ($5.3 million and $6 million settlements just in the past two months). Biden’s Labor Department just announced it is targeting worker misclassification as a focus of enforcement for spring 2022.

At the same time, the definition of an independent contractor keeps changing. The Biden administration recently shelved Trump-era pro-employer guidance on this issue. Now the DOL is planning a new definition and, at the same time, several states and cities are creating their own tests for IC status.

Where does that leave employers? If you classify any workers as independent contractors (or plan to do so), now is the time to make sure you get that classification correct and understand the upcoming changes. Discover your classification mistakes BEFORE the feds do!

Agenda for Independent Contractor vs. Employee:

  • How to create independent contractor relationships that meet current IRS, DOL, NLRB, and state agency requirements.
  • How to make the case-by-case determination of an employee’s status that will stand up in court.
  • What is the DOL’s current definition of a contractor, and what changes are coming?
  • The pros & cons of contractor status (same work, lower costs, fewer hassles) and the risks (reclassifications leading to huge tax, wage, and benefit payments).
  • COVID and vaccine developments affecting independent contractors, and how to respond.
  • Why the feds are increasing enforcement, what they're looking for, and how you can stay in compliance.
  • What to expect in 2022 from the federal government and the states on this issue.
  • The key factors the DOL and IRS consider (and you should, too) in making classification decisions.
  • Important court cases that help draw a brighter line between contractors and employees.
  • The steps you should take to safely manage independent contractors.

During this 75-minute training, you’ll learn how to:

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Your Presenters:

Jennifer Trulock

Jennifer Trulock is a partner at Baker Botts in Dallas, where she is chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. Jennifer graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and she represents management in all aspects of labor and employment law. Jennifer also counsels and trains employers on managing workplace issues and preventing employment lawsuits.

Greg Guidry

Greg Guidry is a shareholder with Ogletree Deakins, based in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has successfully represented management in all phases of labor and employment law throughout the United States for over 35 years. A significant percentage of his practice involves defending and advising clients on misclassification issues. He is the president of the national Management Labor & Employment Roundtable, is a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and has been listed for many years in Best Lawyers in America directory in the labor and employment law field.

Professional Certification Credit Hours Included:

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