Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come to rely more and more on “gig” workers to supply us with our day-to-day needs. When restaurants were forced to shut their doors and grocery stores saw severe restrictions, drivers for companies like GrubHub and Instacart became lifelines for consumers and local businesses alike.
However, despite the critical need for these workers and the COVID-19 exposure risks that they are forced to take each day on the job, such workers are often classified as independent contractors rather than employees, leaving them ineligible for even basic employee protections like minimum wage and unemployment insurance.
The U.S. Department of Labor recently released a proposed rule meant to ensure that employers may continue this practice of misclassifying workers who are essential to their businesses.
Recent Comments