New York Gets Tough On Worker Misclassification

Recently, New York's Governor issued an Executive Order establishing the “Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employee Misclassification.” The Task Force will, among other things: (a) assist with inter-agency cooperation in the enforcement of current laws against employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors instead of employees, or as being exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements; and (b) establish a telephone hotline for complaints of wage violations.

Worker misclassification has been a pervasive problem for decades and, truth be told, many employers have gotten away with way too much for way too long. It's encouraging to see government engage in SOME redeeming action for a change.