As an employer, you may occasionally need to hire independent contractors in order to get the job done. While this can be an economically efficient way to bring in extra resources for a particular project, it is important to understand the intricacies of employee classification under the law, and how you can work to avoid any legal breaches and litigation as a result.
Understanding the rights of independent contractors
Tip pooling laws in Pennsylvania
While many Pennsylvania employers want to use tip pooling with employees -- a practice that involves taking everyone's tips and distributing them evenly amongst everyone -- it can be against the law if not done correctly. In addition, the practice of tip pooling may change very soon in the state due to efforts from the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association to expand tips to everyone who works at a restaurant as long as everyone makes at least minimum wage.
What employers need to know about disability laws
As an employer, it is important that you understand the nature of all the laws in place that protect your employees. This is so that you can create an environment where these laws are obeyed at all times, and also so that you can protect yourself from being exposed to employer litigation claims. By investing time in learning about the law, you have the power to prevent costly lawsuits from arising further down the line.
Preventing whistleblower litigation in Pennsylvania
As an employer, it is important that you prevent any disputes with employees from arising. It is possible to do this successfully by staying aware of the rights that your employees have under the law in Pennsylvania. This is especially true when it comes to whistleblower laws.
When workers are misclassified
As a Pennsylvania small business owner, it may be your responsibility to classify your employees correctly with regard to whether they are actual employees or independent contractors. Classifying your employees appropriately from the outset is critical, because there are some very important distinctions between the two types of workers, and inaccurately claiming that an employee is an independent contractor can land you in some serious hot water.
Wage violations in the gas drilling industry
All workers in the United States are protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This means that they have certain rights such as having a minimum wage and in many cases, being paid at a rate of 1.5 times their normal wage for overtime hours worked.
What to do when your employee took fraudulent sick leave
When employees take sick leave, you will want to respect their rights as employees and make sure that they take adequate time to recover so they can be effective employees when they return back to work. However, while you probably want to believe that your employees are trustworthy and have the right intentions for the company, you may have reason to suspect that they are taking sick leave fraudulently.
