what attorney handled the fedex employee misclassification case

by Dr. Kirsten Quigley III 6 min read

A.G. Underwood Announces $2 Million Settlement With FedEx For Misclassifying And Underpaying Its Delivery Drivers. NEW YORK – Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced the settlement of a lawsuit against FedEx Ground Package System, Inc.Dec 20, 2018

Is there a lawsuit against FedEx?

FedEx Delivers a $240 Million Settlement in IC Misclassification Lawsuits. Last week FedEx announced that it had reached a joint settlement of independent contractor class action lawsuits across 20 states. The $240 million settlement was with its Ground Division drivers, and is still pending court approval.

What is a misclassification claim?

Misclassification claims allege that an employer has misclassified an employee (as "exempt" from eligibility for overtime pay) and thus has failed to pay overtime wages to that employee in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938.

What is the most expensive result of misclassifying employees as independent contractors?

Criminal penalties of up to $1,000 per misclassified worker and one year in prison can be imposed as well. In addition, the person responsible for withholding taxes could also be held personally liable for any uncollected tax.Dec 28, 2017

Why is the IRS concerned about the misclassification of individuals as independent contractors?

Misclassifying workers as independent contractors adversely affects employees because the employer's share of taxes is not paid, and the employee's share is not withheld. If a business misclassified an employee without a reasonable basis, it could be held liable for employment taxes for that worker.Sep 15, 2021

What happens if an employee is misclassified?

The Risks of Worker Misclassification

State and federal penalties generally fall into the following categories: Administrative fines and penalties for noncompliance. Criminal penalties, including potential jail time, for intentional misclassification. Paying back pay and benefits with interest.
Apr 2, 2022

What happens to employers who misclassify employees?

The California Misclassification Penalty

The penalty can range between $5,000 and $15,000 per violation – and if an employer has been proven to engage in a pattern of willful misclassification, the courts can fine them an additional $10,000 to $25,000.

What is the penalty for the willful misclassification of individuals as independent contractors?

A “willful misclassification” is defined as “avoiding employee status for an individual by voluntarily or knowingly misclassifying that individual as an independent contractor.” Section 226.8(b) imposes penalties of between $5,000 and $15,000 for each violation.Oct 13, 2011

Why do employers frequently try to pass off employees as independent contractors?

[1] While some employers misclassify their workers as independent contractors in error, often employers misclassify their employees intentionally in order to reduce labor costs and avoid paying state and federal taxes.Jun 15, 2016

Which of the following are potential penalties for misclassifying employees?

Specifically, the company could be subject to: A $50 fine for each W-2 Form the employer failed to file for the relevant employees. A penalty of 1.5% of the employee's wages. 40% of the FICA taxes that were not withheld from the employee as well as 100% of the matching FICA taxes the employer was supposed to pay.May 5, 2021

How do you fix misclassification?

  1. Talk to your Employer. First, you can try to talk to your employer to see if it will review your classification and reclassify you as an employee. ...
  2. Get the IRS Involved. ...
  3. File Your Tax Return with IRS Form 8919. ...
  4. File an Unemployment Insurance Claim. ...
  5. File a Workers' Comp Claim.

How many criteria does the IRS have to determine independent contractor status?

20 criteria
A worker does not have to meet all 20 criteria to qualify as an employee or independent contractor, and no single factor is decisive in determining a worker's status. The individual circumstances of each case determine the weight IRS assigns different factors.

Can you discipline a contractor?

[Perlman] When dealing with independent contractors, companies shouldn't “discipline” them the same way they would an employee. Instead, the remedy for an independent contractor not complying with company expectations is to terminate – or consider terminating – the contract.Oct 17, 2017