From the United States Department of Labor Blog, Jessica Looman discusses the costs of misclassifying workers. Jessica writes;
A common violation we encounter in our investigations is the misclassification of employees as independent contractors. For example, a restaurant employer may misclassify a dishwasher as an independent contractor. Then when that dishwasher works 65 hours per week, the employer (illegally) avoids paying overtime for the extra 25 hours.
Unfortunately, the true cost of this practice goes far beyond the 25 hours of pay the employer stole.
Misclassification denies employees access to critical benefits and protections they are entitled to – overtime, the minimum wage, family and medical leave and, in some cases, safe workplaces. It generates substantial losses to the U.S. Treasury and the Social Security and Medicare funds, as well as to state unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation funds. It cheats every taxpayer. It undermines the entire economy.
In fact, the misclassification of employees as independent contractors presents one of the most serious workplace problems in our economy today. That’s why the U.S. Department of Labor recently withdrew an independent contractor rule published in January that, had it gone into effect, would have further contributed to the erosion of worker protections.
Some people argue that classifying workers as independent contractors gives the workers more flexibility. But low wages, unpredictable schedules and a lack of job security is not flexibility. Most workers seek predictability and income security with the a ability to address unexpected events – like a child home sick from school – without losing their job, and employers can choose to offer schedules that meet the needs of their employees. This can be accomplished within the employer-employee relationship. Put another way, workers shouldn’t have to give up basic legal protections and livable wages to have a schedule that meets their needs.
Misclassified low-wage workers also are subject to exploitation. Minors, migrant and seasonal laborers, immigrants with limited English proficiency and other vulnerable workers are subject to disparate treatment and wages because they are afraid of retaliation if they exercise their workplace rights.
Misclassification also creates a competitive disadvantage for employers who comply with the law, resulting in an uneven playing field in the marketplace.
Read the full story at The True Cost of Misclassification | U.S. Department of Labor Blog
