2023 Independent Contract Audits by Department of Labor (DOL) and the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) are Creating Havoc for Employers!

Recent developments at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL) could make it more difficult for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors. On January 6, the NLRB and the DOL announced that they entered a Memorandum of Understanding which provides for and encourages interagency cooperation through “information sharing, joint investigations and enforcement activity, training, education, and outreach.” In a separate press release, the NLRB stated that the Memorandum of Understanding “will allow for better enforcement against… misclassification of workers as independent contractors.”

Businesses that use independent contractor work would pay attention to the news out of Washington, D.C., because on October 11, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced its long-awaited proposed rule on contractor classification. The proposed rule would impose a six-factor “economic reality test,” with all the factors equally weighted. The six-factor test would look broadly at the “totality of the circumstances” to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

According to the DOL press release, the proposed rule provides a framework more consistent with existing judicial precedent than the current rule, which was promulgated by the prior administration. Indeed, the proposed rule expressly rescinds the currently applicable rule. The public has 45 days to comment on the proposed rule once it is printed in the Federal Register on Oct. 13.

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• How the regulatory agencies have added the classification of Exempt/Non-Exempt as part of their classification audits for 2023
• Why are the DOL and NLRB working together on this workplace issue
• What other regulatory agencies are creating their version of Independent Contractor rules
• What are the penalties for violating classification regulations by the DOL, NLRB, and IRS?
• What are the several rules employers need to follow to comply with classification?
• What do the “proposed rules” include and which proposal can make challenges for Employers and agents of employers like professionals involved in employee relations?
• What are the best practices when classifying employees vs independent contractors?
• How can Employers and Professionals provide their feedback before the regulations are in place?
• How long do Employers have to put the new rule in place?
• How can Employers effectively mitigate the proposed regulations?

These developments at the DOL and the NLRB could mean trouble for employers that misclassify workers as independent contractors.

For example, an NLRB investigation of an unfair labor practice that leads to the conclusion that certain workers have been misclassified as employees could lead to the DOL finding a company is liable for unpaid overtime and minimum wages.

Considering this heightened scrutiny and potential narrower legal standard, evaluating how companies structure an independent contractor relationship is now more important than ever.

Employers need to seek guidance from experienced counsel when developing and implementing policies related to working with independent contractors.

As the DOL, the IRS, the NLRB, and various other federal and state agencies have their tests for determining independent contractor vs. employee status for various reasons, employers have a keen interest in staying apprised of the developments in this area of employment law.

• All Employers
• Business Owners
• Company Leadership
• Compliance professionals
• Payroll Administrators
• HR Professionals
• Managers/Supervisors
• Anyone interested in being compliant with current regulations

Margie Faulk is a senior level human resources professional with over 15 years of HR management and compliance experience. A current Compliance Advisor for HR Compliance Solutions, LLC, Margie, has worked as an HR Compliance advisor for major corporations and small businesses in the small, large, private, public and Non-profit sectors.  Margie has provided small to large businesses with risk management strategies that protect companies and reduces potential workplace fines and penalties from violation of employment regulations. Margie is bilingual (Spanish) fluent and Bi-cultural.

Margie’s area of expertise includes Criminal Background Screening Policies and auditing, I-9 document correction and storage compliance, Immigration compliance, employee handbook development, policy development, sexual harassment investigations/certified training, SOX regulations, payroll compliance, compliance consulting, monitoring US-based federal, state and local regulations, employee relations issues, internal investigations, HR management, compliance consulting, internal/external audits, and performance management.

Margie is a speaker and accomplished trainer and has created and presented compliance seminars/webinars for over 16 US and International compliance institutes. Margie has testified as a compliance subject matter expert (SME) for several regulatory agencies and against regulatory agencies, thank goodness not on the same day. Margie offers compliance training to HR professionals, business owners, and leadership to ensure compliance with workplace and regulations.

Margie’s unique training philosophy includes providing free customized tools for all attendees. These tools are customized and have been proven to be part an effective risk management strategy. Some of the customized tools include the I-9 Self Audit. Correction and Storage program, Ban the Box Decision Matrix Policy that Employers can provide in a dispute for allegations, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Compliance Guide, Drug-Free Workplace Volatile Termination E-Book and other compliance program tools when attendees register and attend Margie’s trainings.

Margie holds professional human resources certification (PHR) from the HR Certification Institution (HRCI) and SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resources Management. Margie is a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE).