“Wage Theft” by misclassification- independent contractors and interns
Worker misclassification has become perhaps the most widespread way employers are cheating employees out of money they are entitled; otherwise known as “wage theft”.
Construction companies, strip clubs, delivery services, music industry, movie studios, fashion designers, and most recently employers in the “shared economy” such as Uber and Lyft have found themselves in trouble for misclassifying their employees as “independent contractors” or “interns”
Uber and Lyft claim they are a technology service, their only business is connecting customers with contractors providing a certain service; however it certainly appears Uber and Lyft are car services, not technology services. If these companies provide a service and have folks they employ to provide these services, they owe these employees minimum wage and overtime. You can learn more about worker misclassification as it relates to independent contractors here.
Often in industries viewed as “glamorous”- such as the movie or music industry- employers will improperly classify workers as “interns”. Employers claim the individual is receiving valuable work/educational experience which is more valuable to the “intern” than the employer. In reality, these folks are picking up dry cleaning, cleaning offices, running cash registers or other tasks the company would normally have to pay someone to do. These activities clearly benefit the employer more than the employee; these folks are entitled to minimum wage and overtime.
The bottom line is, lots of employers are trying to avoid their legal obligations by misclassifying employees. The benefit to the company for misclassifying these workers is clear; as independent contractors or interns employees are not entitled to minimum wage or overtime, unemployment benefits, workers compensation benefits, etc.
Recent lawsuits have been filed against major employers such as NBC, Warner Music Group, Atlantic Records, Grub Hub, Amazon, Uber, Lyft, Fed Ex, Michael Kors, Versace, etc. all claiming worker misclassification.
We handle cases of worker misclassification on a daily basis and would be glad to review your case for no charge. Feel free to contact our Tennessee Employment Law Office and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
