Misclassification Affects Everyone

The misclassification of employees as independent contractors is a huge problem for workers, employers who play by the rules and our economy.

Miguel Chavez, a taxi driver, was a victim of misclassification – and as a result, was underpaid and subjected to terrible working conditions. “It was just like modern day slavery,” he said.

Misclassification also hurts employers like masonry contractor Doug Burton: “It makes for an unfair playing field and it has to stop.”

As part of our efforts to address this issue, the Labor Department has created a user-friendly webpage where workers, employers and government agencies can find information and resources: www.dol.gov/misclassification.

This new resource offers information about how misclassification affects pay, Unemployment Insurance, safety and health protections, retirement and health benefits, and taxes. Help us address this problem by learning more.

Thank you,

The U.S. Department of Labor