The definition of an “employer” under the FLSA is, like a number of FLSA provisions, not well defined, as set forth in a long and thoughtful opinion from Judge Manish S. Shah of the Northern District of Illinois. Schneider v. Cornerstone Pints, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166993 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 1, 2015). However,
economic realities
USDOL Issues Administrative Interpretation Reflecting Administration’s View Of “Independent Contractor” Analysis Under FLSA
As previously promised, the Department of Labor today issued its eighth Administrator’s Interpretation (“AI”) since the 2010 implementation of this form of guidance. Today’s Interpretation, as expected, reflects the current Department’s position that the governing analysis is the economic realities test which, in the Department’s view, is used to determine “whether the worker…
WHD Administrator Weil Announces Impending “Administrator Interpretation” Regarding Contractor Status
“Administrator’s Interpretations” from the Wage Hour Division have been relatively few and far between since their implementation in 2010. However, on Friday Administrator David Weil, speaking at a conference at New York University School of Law, indicated his office would be issuing such an interpretation to “clarify” who qualifies as an…
Pennsylvania Federal Court: Cosmetology Student Not An “Employee” Entitled To Minimum Wage
Last week, a Pennsylvania federal judge held that a former cosmetology school student was not entitled to minimum wage as an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act or the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. Jochim v. Jean Madeline Educ. Ctr. of Cosmetology, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 45663 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 8,…
Nevada Supreme Court: Exotic Dancers Are Employees Under State’s Law
In a setback for that state’s thriving adult entertainment business, the Nevada Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Sapphire Gentleman’s Club improperly classified its 6000+ semi-nude performers as independent contractors rather than employees under Nevada’s minimum wage law. Terry et al. v. Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club et al., case number 59214, 10/30/14.
The Nevada court, citing…
Brooklyn Federal Court Rejects Allegation That Not-For-Profit Board President Was An Employer
Many courts, including the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, have ruled that under certain circumstances an individual can be a statutory “employer” under the Fair Labor Standards Act, liable for minimum or overtime wages usually along with a corporate entity. The scope of such potential liability and the precise formulation of the…
Ohio Court Concludes That Construction Trade Association Is Not Joint Employer
In recent months, we have discussed courts adjudicating claims seeking to hold municipalities and business’ clients‘ liable as “joint employers” for alleged unpaid wages under the FLSA. A new decision rejects a similar challenge brought with respect to a trade association. IBEW, Local Union No. 8 v. King Elec. Servs., 2014 U.S. Dist.…
Eastern District of New York Senior Judge Deems FLSA Allegations Of Overtime, Contractor Misclassification Inadequately Pled
Following the Second Circuit’s clarification that an FLSA plaintiff must provide “sufficiently developed factual allegations” regarding hours worked (DeJesus v. HF Mgmt. Servs., LLC, 726 F.3d 85, 89-90 (2d Cir. 2013)), District Courts both within and outside the Circuit have sought to apply that standard to Fair Labor Standards Act complaints. In one…
Second Circuit Affirms Ruling That NYC Was Not “Joint Employer”
Affirming a 2013 district court ruling discussed in detail here, in a summary order the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that Eastern District of New York Magistrate Judge Joan M. Azrack did not err in finding that home attendants employed by a not-for-profit agency who provided personal care services to City…
Supreme Court Declines Catsimatidis’ Invitation To Review FLSA Liability
Though the high court recently has accepted other petitions for certiorari on FLSA issues, today the Court declined Gristede’s owner and former NYC mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis’ request that the Court take up his case and review the imposition of individual liability imposed by the Second Circuit. Catsimatidis v. Irizarry, 2014 U.S.…