Atlanta and Washington, D.C. (April 28, 2009) – Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has launched WorkerClassification.com—a comprehensive, daily resource for the latest news and developments on issues relating to the classification of workers.
In today’s world, employers face a range of possible challenges regarding classifying workers as independent contractors or exempt employees for Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) purposes. These challenges can rock the very foundation of a company’s business model with potential devastating effects on its bottom line.
“It’s no secret that the classification of a company’s workforce is being scrutinized like never before by federal and state authorities, not to mention a major increase in litigation brought by disgruntled employees and contractors,” said Litigation Partner Thomas R. Bundy III. “WorkerClassification.com is a valuable resource to help those affected understand and appreciate the issue.”
WorkerClassification.com tracks and posts news developments daily. Registered guests can access helpful federal and state resources including articles, recent opinions, government reports, and news about classification task forces. WorkerClassification.com also analyzes trends by discussing classification challenges on an industry-by-industry basis.
The subject of worker classification is likely to take on increased importance in light of the recent election of Barack Obama as President. While in the Senate, President Obama showed an interest in strengthening workers’ rights, particularly with respect to whether they should be classified as employees. Along with others, he introduced the Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007. This legislation sought to give regulatory authority to the IRS to establish standards for properly classifying workers and to repeal the Section 530 safe harbor provisions that currently allow employers to rely on industry practice or professional advice as a reasonable basis for classifying workers. Also as a senator, President Obama, along with others, introduced the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act on September 29, 2008, which sought “to provide a special penalty for employers who misclassify employees as nonemployees.”
While scrutiny on workforce classification will continue, we hope WorkerClassification.com will be your first and last daily stop for classification news and development.
ABOUT SUTHERLAND.
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP is a law firm with global reach known for solving challenging business problems and resolving sophisticated legal issues for many of the world’s largest companies. Founded in 1924, the firm handles matters throughout the United States and worldwide. Seven major practice areas—corporate, financial services, energy and environmental, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax—provide the framework for an extensive range of focus areas, allowing Sutherland attorneys to serve a diverse client base that ranges from small and medium-sized start-up businesses to a significant number of Fortune 100 companies.
###