Reform, compliance and regulation are impacting businesses like never before. Employers need guidance and support to identify and manage the risks their businesses face. Our Compliance and Workplace Solutions team is there to support you as a complement to your in-house or retained counsel by providing practical guidance when difficult decisions need to be made.
We help you stay on top of all the trends and innovations in benefits, business insurance and human resources. This can include: compliance with new and changing regulations, fiduciary responsibility as a retirement plan sponsor, employment practices liability claims avoidance, affirmative action and contract compliance, as well as many other areas.
You will sleep better at night knowing our team of experts understand the employment laws and regulations impacting your business. Not only do we help you solve your problems, we also make sure we share our knowledge and resources with you so you have the tools and information necessary to move forward with confidence, prepared for any challenges you might face. Services provided include:
Knowing that life’s only two certainties are death and taxes, let’s turn our attention to how the IRS determines independent contractor status. Previously, the IRS used to apply a 20-factor test to determine whether or not an individual could be classified as an independent contractor. A number of years ago they moved to what they call a “common-law” test that focuses on the degree of control the business exercises in achieving its purposes versus the degree of independence the worker has to actually perform the tasks themselves. As described in IRS Publication 15-A, the IRS will closely examine each of the following three areas: “behavioral control, financial control, and the type of relationship of the parties.” Let’s take a look at each.
The Federal Department of Labor (DOL) and its related state agencies are charged with making sure that employees are given the modern-day equivalent of an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. Employers who fail to do so can be subject to back-pay claims, penalties and attorneys’ fees.
Vaccines are here, government shut-downs are lifted, and some people are eager to get out of the house! Businesses may be flooded this summer with customers and visitors needing to be entertained, waited on, or serviced. And as summers go, teens are ready to ditch the screens (or classrooms if they were lucky) and hit the job hunt. So, if you are considering hiring one of these enterprising teenagers, it’s important to be aware of the special laws that govern the employment of minors.