The medical ethics phrase “first do no harm” is also applicable to public policy. It is an ethical consideration to be taken seriously by any state contemplating the adoption of an “ABC” test for determining worker status.
On September 18, 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 5, which significantly restricts an individual’s right to work in that state as an independent contractor.
The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave law (“PFML”) created a new paid family and medical leave benefit for Massachusetts employees and certain independent contractors who reside in Massachusetts.
A bill was recently introduced in the Ohio legislature which would pose an existential threat to companies that do business with independent contractors. The bill, H.B. 568, would establish a new more stringent seven-part statutory test to determine a worker’s status for purposes of several state laws. H.B. 568 would amend the minimum wage, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and tax law… Read more →
Several states have given businesses in the sharing economy something to celebrate: legislation that would clarify the independent-contractor status of individuals who obtain client opportunities through technology platforms. These legislative initiatives take two forms, namely, bills narrowly focused on transportation network company drivers (e.g., individuals who drive for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft), and broader bills that apply to individuals… Read more →