Employee Misclassification
Philadelphia Employee Misclassification Attorneys
Employee misclassification is a known problem that strips workers of certain rights and benefits they’d otherwise receive. Most often employee misclassification takes the form of improperly categorizing workers as independent contractors when they actually meet the standards of an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The U.S. Department of Labor has taken steps to mitigate this widespread issue. In March 2021, they enacted rules revising the status of independent contractors and defining their obligations, then in October 2022, they published a notice proposing further regulations. Despite this attention, employee misclassification continues to persist throughout the country, and Pennsylvania is no exception. It has seemingly become a go-to corporate tactic to restrict the protections and services they offer to certain groups of workers, especially those working in warehouses and fulfillment centers.
If you suspect that you’ve been misclassified as an independent contractor and kept from the employee privileges you deserve, we invite you to partner with our firm. At Winebrake & Santillo, our attorneys have dedicated their careers to litigating labor cases all throughout the U.S. In fact, they handle more wage and hour cases than any other firm in Pennsylvania.
Contact our Philadelphia-based employee misclassification lawyers at (215) 866-1551 for a free consultation with Winebrake & Santillo.
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“Have significant experience in similar matters under the [Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act]” - Torres v. Brandsafway Indus. LLC, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10631, at *8 (W.D. Pa. Jan. 20, 2023).
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Employee Misclassification in Philadelphia
Ultimately, your classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) depends on the type of relationship you have with your employer. If you have an employee relationship, you likely perform regular services for one business on an ongoing basis, and the business has a certain degree of control over when and how you fulfill your duties. On the other hand, independent contractors usually accept projects from multiple clients and retain more autonomy regarding how they complete the contracted jobs.
To determine your proper employee classification, you may consider the following questions:
- Do you work for one employer?
- Are they your sole source of income?
- Do you have an ongoing relationship with them?
- Do they establish your hours and schedule?
- Do they assign you duties and set deadlines?
- Do they control how you accomplish the work?
- Do they provide the equipment necessary to fulfill your obligations?
- Do they pay you hourly or a salary every month, or do they pay per project?
In most cases, independent contractors and employees answer these questions differently from one another. However, no one question should be used as a basis to determine your relationship with a business. For example, federal courts typically give less weight to how workers are paid when making misclassification determinations because the FLSA conditions apply regardless of how workers are paid (even if they’re paid “under the table”).
Fighting Employee Classification in Pennsylvania and Beyond
In the overwhelming majority of cases, employee misclassification benefits the business more than the worker. It’s frequently used as a tool to restrict wage protections, circumvent hour laws, avoid certain tax liabilities, limit employee benefits (healthcare packages, retirement, etc.), and force employees to buy their own equipment needed to perform services.
How to Report a Business for Misclassification of Employees
The misclassification of employees affects employees and independent contractors and withholds their rights as employees. Construction workers are also particularly susceptible to worker misclassification. Employers may face civil or criminal penalties for misclassifying workers.
If your or someone you know has been misclassified as a worker, you may file a complaint with the Fair Labor Section or the Department of Labor and Industry under the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act or the Wage Payment and Collection Law.
Before contacting them, be sure to speak with an experienced Philadelphia employee misclassification attorney at Winebrake & Santillo. You may file a complaint, however, you must also provide evidence that demonstrates that you meet the conditions of being an employee. Any employee misclassification lawyer from our firm has had years of experience and knows exactly what you need to prepare your case. Contact us to ensure that you have everything you need for a successful complaint and case.
Call an Employee Misclassification Lawyer in Philadelphia (215) 866-1551
With over 70 years of combined experience, you can trust that Winebrake & Santillo will confidently litigate your employee misclassification case. We’ve successfully taken on businesses of all sizes and got our clients the compensation and privileges they deserve. Our team will work with you to report your case, gather evidence, represent your interests, and defend you against employer retaliation.
Let our Philadelphia employee misclassification attorneys fight for the protections and benefits you deserve. Give us a call today at (215) 866-1551 or complete our form.