Connecticut Employment Law Blog Insight on Labor & Employment Developments for Connecticut Businesses

Tag Archives: misclassification

Three Takeaways from Labor & Employment Seminar

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Labor Law & NRLB, Laws and Regulations, Wage & Hour

We had another great turnout last week  for my firm’s seminar on labor & employment law.  Many of the topics would be familiar to avid blog readers, but there were three interesting points that I haven’t talked much about that I thought were also notable. 1.  In September, the IRS announced a Voluntary Classification Settlement… Continue Reading

Connecticut Part of New Governmental Pact on Employee Misclassificiation

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Highlight, Laws and Regulations, Wage & Hour

With all the publicity about paid sick leave (effective January 1, 2012 — you’re ready, right?), it’s important not to forget that there are plenty of other employment laws that employers have to consider. Over the last few years, there’s been more agency enforcement centered around employee misclassification — that is treating “real” employees as… Continue Reading

Issues for Misclassification Lawsuits – Don’t Get Swept Up

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Class Actions, Litigation, Wage & Hour

The Connecticut Law Tribune this morning has word of a lawsuit by a group of individuals who say that as vacuum sellers, they were “hosed” by a company that, they claim, was actually their employer.  Because the case has just been filed, the employer has not yet filed a response. You can download a copy… Continue Reading

Webinar Series is Back: Classification and Compensation Issues for Employers

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance

After a brief hiatus, our free monthly webinar series is back.  On November 3, 2010 (from 12-1 p.m. EDT), my colleagues Jonathan Orleans and Tiffany Kouri will address two hot topics in employment law: State and federal authorities are focusing attention on the distinction between employees and independent contractors. Misclassification can expose employers to liability… Continue Reading

Wage & Hour Rx Wrapup: What Employers Need To Know

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Wage & Hour

Yesterday’s seminar on Wage & Hour Rx, sponsored by the CBIA, went very well and I thank all of the attendees for their great questions and comments. It made for a lively discussion about all things wage & hour. What were some of the "hot topics"? The difference between employees and independent contractors was a… Continue Reading

Employers Can Use Independent Contractors, But It Must Be Legitimate

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Wage & Hour

With all the publicity lately about the new efforts by the state and federal governments to "crack down" on employers that misclassify employees as independent contractors, you might think that being an independent contractor is a dirty word. Not so, according to Michael Gualtieri, who owns and operates ProCourier, Inc. and serves as president of… Continue Reading

Webinar: Why FLSA Exemptions & Classifications Are Under Attack & How to Respond

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations, Wage & Hour

Our webinar on employee misclassification and FLSA exemptions is set for noon today. There’s still time to register for this free webinar here (we hope to post the webinar audio later today).  If you can’t make it (or even if you can), the following is a link to the webinar materials. In the webinar, we will… Continue Reading

Misclassification Initiatives: How Can Employers Be Prepared; Next Webinar Set

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Laws and Regulations, Wage & Hour

It has been widely reported over the last month that the United States Department of Labor is planning some new initiatives to crack down on usage (or abuse) of independent contractors by companies.  Several blogs have done a thorough job on reporting about it including the Delaware Employment Law Blog, Point Of Law, Florida Employment… Continue Reading

A Dollar Here, 35 Million Dollars There…: Classifcation of Employees Remains Timely Issue

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Wage & Hour

While I’m out on vacation for a bit, I thought I’d have one of my colleagues share a post on a recent case he’s focused on. Mick Lavelle is no stranger to employment law issues, having successfully litigated the case of Bridgeport Hospital v. CHRO — an important Connecticut Supreme Court case which curtailed the… Continue Reading

The Reality of Federal Court Statistics On Wage/Hour Claims and the Perception

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Litigation

In this week’s Connecticut Law Tribune, there’s a story about how the U.S. Department of Labor is hiring 250 more investigators and what this potentially means for wage/hour suits in Connecticut. The gist of the story is that employers should not surprised if there’s an increased focus on such claims. I happen to be quoted… Continue Reading

Report Focuses On Companies That Fail to Pay Employee Taxes…and the Consequences

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Human Resources (HR) Compliance, Laws and Regulations

Over the weekend, the Hartford Business Journal published a revealing look at Connecticut’s efforts to crackdown on companies that avoid paying employee taxes and workers’ compensation insurance. Indeed, according to the published report, the state’s efforts resulted in 220 stop-work orders at construction sites across Connecticut. But the report goes on to contend that "a… Continue Reading

New Year, New Laws: What New Connecticut Laws Should Employers Be Aware Of

By Daniel Schwartz on Posted in Laws and Regulations

January 1st brings lots of things – resolutions, fresh starts, and, inevitably, the occasional letter with a 2008 year written in, instead of 2009. But traditionally, it also marks the effective date for a few more Connecticut laws.  (October 1st is also a big date for many new laws). So what does January 1st bring… Continue Reading