Recently, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dealt an even bigger blow to employers in regards to misclassification. The court ruled that California’s stringent “ABC” test applies retroactively. This new decision means that employers can be liable for classification decisions that were made before the ABC test was even made into a law. This creates a huge urgency for employers in California to put their attention towards.
Last year, the California Supreme Court made a decision to adopt the new test to further clarify employee classification determinations in the state. The ruling was the result of a long and drawn out misclassification case, and set a new standard for determining whether a company “employs” or is the “employer” for purposes of the California Wage Orders. The court’s “ABC” test made it more difficult for employers to classify workers as independent contractors going forward, and thanks to the appeals court, the test can be applied to situations going backwards as well.
The “ABC” test indicates that the hiring entity must prove the following in order to justify an independent contractor classification:
(A)The worker is free from the control and direction of the hirer in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of such work and in fact;
(B) The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
(C)The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity.
If the employer can not prove all three of the above factors to be true they can be subject to class action lawsuits such as the case that resulted in adoption of the test. The employer may also face a number penalties and fines and even prison time depending on the severity of the case.
Misclassification is a mistake that California employers can’t afford, now more than ever. Partnering with a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), like Emplicity, gives employers the advantage of having knowledgeable HR professionals review their employee classifications to catch any mistakes before a claim is files and reduce the likelihood of employee misclassification in their organization going forward. Emplicity strives to stay on top of the constantly changing California regulatory standards and labor court decisions so their clients can focus on growing their businesses without worrying about lawsuits and penalties that could have them closing their doors for good.
About Emplicity:
Since 1995, Emplicity has provided a smarter, more secure, and integrated platform of employer services to its 300 business clients and their 8,500 employees. As a Professional Employer Organization, or PEO, the California-based HR outsourcing firm simplifies the compliance, administration, and support businesses need in the areas of employee benefits, payroll, and human resources technology.
For more information about us, visit www.emplicity.com or call us at (877) 476-2339. We’d love to make your employee management more simple—and secure.
NOTICE: Emplicity provides HR advice and recommendations. Information provided by Emplicity is not intended as a substitute for employment law counsel. At no time will Emplicity have the authority or right to make decisions on behalf of its clients.
