Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says a new unit in her office will focus on businesses that illegally classify their workers as independent contractors to reduce their costs.
The Democratic attorney general says it’s a growing trend around the country – employers who classify their workers as independent contractors. Nessel says that’s used to avoid paying workers the minimum wage as well as health and unemployment benefits they’re entitled to. And she says it cheats other employers who play by the rules and shoulder those costs.
“And that’s just not fair – to anyone.”
Some employer groups say they’re concerned regulators may be too aggressive against employers who make honest mistakes.