Gig Economy Employers Beware: Labor Board Ruling May Upend Independent Contractor Model

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently issued a ruling that potentially has broad ramifications for any companies using independent contractors, such as those in the gig economy. Independent contractors are not covered under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and cannot form unions or seek redress of alleged employer violations of the NLRA. Based on this case, it may now be more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors, at least from a labor law perspective.