What Are My Rights as an Independent Contractor in Florida

You are legally recognized as an independent contractor in the state of Florida if you have established a business with certain official insignia. If your business has a registered location or employer identification number, receives payments on behalf of the business, or uses a bank account in the name of the business, take four different tests to confirm your status as an entrepreneur. In addition to U.S. Supreme Court cases, the IRS often decides whether an independent contractor is really an employee, which puts the employer in the responsibility for payroll taxes (and may be the reason for misclassification). The IRS uses a “right of control” test that analyzes 20 separate factors to determine the degree of employer control over the employee. These factors address the nature of the contractual relationship between the parties and the behavioural and financial aspects of the relationship. Analyzing the relationship between IRS factors is useful in determining whether the employee is truly an independent contractor or really an employee. While these are very broad areas of distinction, the IRS continues to break down the differences between independent contractors and employees using different criteria, with the underlying theme “Who sets the work rules.” These include: Independent contractors offer more flexibility. Companies typically hire independent contractors on a project basis. Employers are not immediately liable if an independent contractor is injured while working. Liability is reduced for complaints of unlawful dismissal, discrimination in the workplace and sexual harassment. Employers can still be held liable in certain circumstances, as state and federal laws govern these areas. (I) The Independent Contractor provides or agrees to perform certain services or work for a certain amount of money and controls the means of performance of the services or work.

IV) The independent contractor shall maintain one or more bank accounts on behalf of the business entity to pay for the expenses of the business or other expenses related to the services provided or the work performed for remuneration; An independent contractor is not subject to the will and control of the employer. Florida`s independent contractor laws require employers to have much less control over independent contractors. The performance of independent contractors is generally results-oriented. A standard employee-employer relationship measures performance through day-to-day observation and monitoring. According to the IRS, the gratuitous misclassification of an employee as an independent contractor results in the obligation to pay payroll taxes for the employee. Myth #5: I am an independent contractor because I signed an independent contractor agreement. FACT #5: Signing an independent contractor contract does not make you an independent contractor. Some factors may indicate that the employee is an employee, while other factors indicate that the employee is an independent contractor. There is no “magic” or a number of factors that “make” the worker an employee or an independent contractor, and no one factor is the only one to make this decision. In addition, factors that are relevant in one situation may not be relevant in another. The keys are to examine the entire relationship, to examine the degree or extent of the right of control and control, and finally to document each of the factors used in the creation of the provision.

Myth #3: I received a tax form for 1099 from my employer, making me an independent contractor. FACT #3: Getting a 1099 doesn`t make you an independent contractor. Myth #9: I`m teleworking or working off-site, so I`m an independent contractor. FACT #9: You`re not an independent contractor just because you work off-site or from home. Marketplace platforms, on the other hand, are defined as entities that operate in Florida and connect users to people who provide temporary housekeeping services and only accept service requests through an app, website, or other systems. Like TNCs, marketplaces cannot exert much control over their employees outside of the terms of the contract. In particular, such platforms must not prescribe the hours their workers must have to work, nor prevent them from using competing platforms or exercising other professions. The contractor in the contract must also cover the majority of the contractor`s expenses incurred during the provision of these services, and he is also responsible for paying taxes on the contractor`s income. Their contract must also stipulate that the contractor is in fact an independent contractor.

If you are wrongly classified as an independent contractor, you are missing out on a large amount of benefits and employment protections available to you under federal and state law, not just overtime pay. If you think your employer has misclassified you, call Florida Labor Attorney Robert S. Norell at 954-617-6017. We offer a free assessment of your case to determine if you are entitled to unpaid overtime or other benefits. Hiring a person as an independent contractor offers businesses several advantages. Independent contractors earn funds by commission or employment under Florida law, even if the contract lasts for an extended period of time. For example, if you make one quilt a week for a store for $500 per quilt, each quilt is a “job.” As long as the contract company allows you to control the intricacies of the process, you retain your status as an entrepreneur. If you earned a 25% commission for each quilt you sell through a consignment store, the consignment store considers you an independent contractor because the store itself was not involved in the creation of the item. According to the FSLA (Fair Labor Standards Act), an employment relationship must be distinguished from a contractual relationship.

An employee depends on the company they work for – the FSLA calls this an “economic reality”. The U.S. Supreme Court has emphasized more than once that no single rule or test determines whether an employee is an employee or an independent contractor, but that the work situation must be considered as a whole. The Supreme Court considers: (I) The independent contractor maintains a separate business with its own work facilities, truck, equipment, materials or similar dwellings; (V) the independent contractor performs work at its own discretion or is able to perform work for an additional business or alongside the employer without the need to complete an application or procedure; or employment or independent contractor contracts written by a lawyer are of paramount importance to protect your business from possible lawsuits or liabilities. Relying on free online templates or verbal agreements means, at best, playing with your company`s assets. Call (727) 279-5037 or visit our fixed-fee service page for contracts written by a local Florida business attorney. An independent contractor agreement in Florida can protect you and your business from possible lawsuits or liabilities. Establishing employment conditions and expectations avoids confusion related to the classification of workers. You can also use the agreement to support your work classification if a conflict arises later. For example, imagine an independent contractor filing workers` compensation claiming they are your employee. Employees are legally required to receive at least the federal government minimum wage as well as overtime pay. An independent contractor has no such requirements and usually works at a fixed price per order, although this may vary depending on the work done.

The construction industry is usually filled with workers who are wrongly classified as independent contractors, as well as workers in the following sectors: (VI) The independent contractor receives remuneration for work or services provided on the basis of a tendering procedure or for the completion of a task or series of tasks as specified in a contractual agreement, unless this contractual agreement expressly stipulates the existence of an employment relationship. where, when and how they should perform certain tasks. An independent contractor sets their own hours, can work from home or from other locations (depending on the job), and determines how specific orders should be fulfilled. While there are many differences between independent contractors and employees, perhaps the most obvious is that an employer does not have the right to control or direct the means or methods by which the results of the work are achieved, but only the result of the work itself. In other words, the right of control is an essential element in determining whether the employee is an independent contractor or an employee. (III) the independent contractor receives remuneration for the services rendered or work performed, and that remuneration is paid to a business and not to an individual; On the other hand, a financially independent person is likely to be an independent contractor. Myth #4: It doesn`t matter if I`m classified as an independent contractor or an employee. FACT #4: If you are incorrectly classified as an independent contractor, you may be denied the benefits and protections to which employees are legally entitled. Misclassification also has a negative impact on businesses. If you receive a MISC Form 1099 that reflects the compensation of non-employees, you are working as an independent contractor, not as an employee. Florida law provides several criteria for determining your employment status.

If you get at least four points, you can claim the title of entrepreneur and enjoy the freedom to direct your own work. However, if you qualify as an employee, you will earn an hourly wage. In addition, the classification of an employee has an impact on human rights in the workplace. Independent contractors are generally expected to provide or purchase everything they need to perform the work. Employees are not required to provide their own workplace, equipment, tools and supplies, or to invest their own money in the business. .