Congress is considering duplicate bills, reintroduced this year, which would crack down on employers that misclassify employees as independent contractors.
The Payroll Fraud Prevention Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers accurately classify workers and provide employees with notice of their classification. Democrats Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida introduced the legislation in their respective chambers July 29, which was referred to committees.
Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., who co-sponsored H.R.3427, said misclassified workers are denied employment law protections, public benefits programs and fair compensation. The New Jersey Democrat estimated up to 40 percent of employers in his home state misclassified workers. While the legislation does not target a specific industry, Payne noted that misclassified port truckers in New Jersey and New York average $28,000 annually.
The bill would make it a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act to misclassify employees or discriminate against them for opposing their classification. It would impose up to $1,100 for a violation of misclassification, minimum wage or overtime standards and up to $5,000 for repeat or willful violations. The measure would also extend a private right of action to misclassified employees to recover wages and allow double liquidated damages for non-compliance with minimum wage or maximum hour standards.
Additionally, the bill would:
H.R.3427 has three co-sponsors while S.1896 has five co-sponsors. It has been introduced three times since 2011.
