Workers in a variety of industries, including technology, construction and entertainment are often misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees. There can be great incentive to do so, as well. Independent contractors are not generally eligible for the same rights as regular employees, including minimum wage, overtime and various benefits.One rule, according to a federal judge in Georgia hearing a case of strippers who were classified as independent contractors, hinges on whether or not the worker is performing a task that is integral to the business. If that person’s duties are vital to the business, then that person is likely an employee and probably isn’t being paid the wages and hours he or she is legally owed. If the worker does not have much control over his or her work - such as setting hours, what to wear, how to conduct him or herself - then he or she is likely also an employee, the judge found, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1/3/14).
In some industries, according to reports, the problem is widespread. A 2013 report titled “Build a Better Texas” found that many workers in the construction industry were denied legal protection.
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And, the report notes, the issue goes deeper than not being paid proper wages. Many who are misclassified do not have access to proper medical care or protections. Some employees do not find out they have been misclassified until they file a wage claim.
More and more employees are coming forward to allege they have been misclassified as independent contractors and therefore denied proper wages and protections while on the job. If those workers are found to be employees and not independent contractors, they could be compensated for unpaid wages and overtime pay.
READER COMMENTS
VAlorie pandak
on
I had in 12 months paid my insurance in full with 2 insurance companies. AND the insurance companies sent me a refund check and one company finally explained why I could not keep insurance with y bosses company.
I could have been called and fixed the situation that day.
1.Problem IS , Company was suppose to pay my insurance.
2. I had a receipt from insurance I already paid for the year.
3. My termination letter wasn't sent just to me. Company also my letter it was also sent to their employee. isn't that against the law?
4. Same day company sent my termination letter to their employee My employer( I was subcontracting for 4 years) sent my company checks to his employee . Checks were for 6280.00 and 4,800.00 and 1,000.00 .Checks were still made out to my company VP Enterprises ,Inc. and this man cashed them. I lost over 252,000.00 with these checks being sent to another person.
6. I later found out I was fired because this company was uninsurable. The company and their employee had just settled a wrongful death lawsuit and they paid out of court for 5.3 million.
b. wrongful death lawsuit also against the employee of there that stole my checks that was sent to them.
c. Companies employee previously had used propene in tractor tires and there was an injury.
d. Companies employee had no license. his license was expired from 2004 -2014 .
e.Employee that sent my checks also had filed bankruptcy in 1990s for another one of his employees getting injured.
IT WAS NOT MY FAULT INSURANCE COMPAIES KEPT SENDING ME A REFUND.
But it seems when lawsuit was over against both the company and their employee , its like they wanted the contract back and I had it.
7. Same day this employee that cashed my checks at ACE CHERCK CASHING in his writing writes insurance 534.00 and incorporation papers. 500.00 for same day papers.
8. It took 3 things to steal my contract
a. Insurance bought with my stolen company illegally cashed check.
b. Incorporation papers with my stolen illegally cashed at ACE CHECK CASHING this employee of the company that sent my checks to him. He in own writing bought incorporation papers the same day.
c. MY x-boss and their employee they sent my company checks to are still using and hiding my bulldozers. to this day....
The company I was under contract for is worth 60 million dollars. They refuse to pay me the checks they rerouted on purpose. Then as I dug through the dumpsters for more evidence when this guy was evicted I found emails from my employer to their employee to sign my name as president on a contract I still to this day have never seen and send contract back to the company as if I signed it.
I also found this worker had told me my bulldozers were down for repairs as that wasn't true. I found companies employee was using my dozers ( that were not down ) and billing my boss telling him to send my check to him not ME THE OWNER>
Summing up.
1. company that fired me same day hired their employee soon as the wrongful death lawsuit against them was paid off.
2.They incorporated the employee ( the other wrongful death lawsuit ) with my check I know because I found the check stub and confronted the jerk.
3. They bought the insurance with my check again. I even found ACE receipt where MY COMPANY checks were cashed.
4. I found emails from the company I worked for telling employee to sign my name so they could reroute.
5. I found ACE and NETSPEND prepaid form with signatures
to ACE and net spend. saying from now on transfer all money owed to VPENTERPRISESINC to this account and it was the employee of the company I work for.
For rerouted checks to their employee using my equipment
and sending my checks to their employee while I haven't even received a letter of termination was ,
1 million 326,065.00
still suing my inventory 30, 703.62
still using my bulldozers 72000.00
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ACE and net spend help cash over 100,000.00 with my stolen ID.I also emailed you under IDENTITY THEFT TODAY>
Fred T Blanton
on
Prentiss Jenkins
on
Fred Blanton
on
You should publish that.
Prem Arjoon
on
Prem Arjoon