Contract Workers
Legal considerations concerning contract, contingent, and temporary workers require heightened attention now that the “gig economy” is a more commonly used business model.
Issues such as independent contractor status and joint or co-employment increase the financial and reputational risks to companies and have potential for significant consequences when employment regulations and compliance requirements are not appropriately managed. Our Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety lawyers are highly experienced with the issues and risks when engaging independent contractors, and regularly advise on a range of risk mitigation strategies.
Our lawyers regularly advise clients who engage contract workers across global jurisdictions with respect to:
- The role performed by the contract worker and level of control exercised on the contract worker by the company.
- The effective use of contract workers within the legal parameters of the company’s relevant jurisdictions to minimize risk.
- Superannuation rights of contractors in Australia.
- Potential payroll or tax liabilities.
We also regularly litigate independent contractor misclassification claims via individual claims, class action, government audit, regulatory prosecution, or mass arbitrations.
