Employees in the modern workplace are subject to a wide range of legal protections relating to wages, working hours and benefits. To get around these rules and the expense of compliance, some companies misclassify employees as independent contractors — that is, workers who provide services similarly to outside vendors. If you suspect that you are being miscategorized as a contractor and denied rights to which you are entitled, the New Jersey employee misclassification attorneys at Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack will give you reliable advice and stand up in your behalf.
A company may use the services of different types of workers, including:
The key difference is that companies owe certain legal duties to employees that they don’t owe to independent contractors. However, very often an independent contractor performs the same work as a regular employee but does not receive the same pay or benefits.
A misclassification can be the result of an honest mistake or of an intentional end run around the law. Employers often save money by using independent contractors instead of taking on full-time employees. In addition, some labor laws don’t apply to employers who have fewer than a certain number of employees, so the misclassification can be inadvertent. Regardless of the reason, if you are a misclassified employee, you can trust us to strive to vindicate your rights.
Employees and independent contractors generally differ in several ways, such as the following:
Business circumstances vary, so these descriptions are not always cut and dried. We can review your situation and determine if you’ve been misclassified as an independent contractor.
As an independent contractor, you are:
We will work with dedication to prove your proper status and make you whole for your losses, through negotiation or through litigation as necessary.
There are several signs you can look for to tell if you’re a misclassified employee, such as:
If you suspect that you’re a misclassified employee, we can make a more accurate determination and help vindicate your rights.
The attorneys of Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. in Hackensack have broad experience in helping New Jersey workers get the protections they deserve under state and federal labor laws. To schedule a consultation, call 551-245-8894 or contact us online.