Independent contractors are not treated the same as employees. While independent contractors have more freedom in their work, they also lack some of the protections enjoyed by traditional employees, such as workers' compensation and unemployment benefits. They are also responsible for paying their own taxes directly to the Internal Revenue Service from the first dollar, since their taxes are not withheld by the business that is paying them. If you have a question as to whether you should work as an independent contractor or as an employee, contact an experienced employment law attorney today to discuss your situation.
Learn More About Employment Law
Most employment is "at-will." Basically, this means that you could quit or be fired for almost any reason, or even no reason at all. However, there are exceptions to that general rule and employees have many safeguards in place to protect their rights. Under current state and federal laws, employers are not allowed to dismiss an employee for their age, race, sex, pregnancy, national origin, color, union activity or in violation of public policy. If you have been dismissed for one of these reasons, contact the attorneys at Cook, Portune & Logothetis to learn more about your options.
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Employment Law, Employee Resource Links
United States Department of Labor
This Web site is for the United States Department of Labor, which provides information for workers, employers and unions.
Wage and Hour Division
This page contains information regarding enforcement of federal labor laws, including minimum wage, child labor and overtime standards set out under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).
The Contract Employee's Handbook
This resource contains information to assist independent contractors with management of their careers.
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
The NLRB site provides background information on the functions and services of the National Labor Relations Board of interest to employers, employees and policymakers.
Employee Rights
This page, maintained by the NLRB, provides a list of employee rights granted under federal law.
Legal Information Institute
The LII gives background information on various employment law issues.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page
The ADA Web site offers information and updates on numerous aspects of the ADA, including regulation, enforcement and innovations to assist with compliance.
AFL-CIO
Official site for American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations.
OSHA
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration site provides useful resources for creating and maintaining a safe work environment as well as information on reporting non-compliant workplaces.
Workplace Fairness
Workplace Fairness, formerly known as the National Employee Rights Institute (NERI), helps individuals understand their rights in the workplace; the organization's site includes fact sheets, discussion groups and publications.
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