New Test for a New Year? Labor Board Reconsiders Independent Contractor Status

Many companies use independent contractors to supplement various parts of their workforce. Such workers are exempt from coverage of most relevant federal employment laws, including the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). That means, for example, an independent contractor generally does not have the right to form or join a union in the private sector. However, employers should be aware that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently announced it will be revisiting the legal test it utilizes to evaluate who qualifies as an independent contractor.