New Proposed Independent Contractor Classification Rule for U.S. Clubs

As expected, the Biden Administration finally issued its long-awaited Independent Contractor (IC) Classification Rule. As expected, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed rule brings back the six-factor “economic realities test” established under the Obama Administration. For clubs that use ICs (e.g., caddies, fitness instructors, massage therapists, and a host of other club workers), this new rule will likely force additional operational changes to ensure compliance.

Under this proposed rule, the following six factors will be the key to determining when a club leader can appropriately classify a worker as an independent contractor rather than an employee:

• Does the worker’s own business acumen help generate profits or losses for the business? (Does he/she market the business to other clubs, set his/her fees based on market rates, and accept and decline work based on sound business decisions?) If yes, then he/she is an IC.

• Does the worker make capital or entrepreneurial investments in the business? (Does he/she invest in ways to reduce costs or extend market reach rather than simply paying the costs associated with doing a specific job?) If yes, then he/she is an IC.

• How permanent is the relationship between the club and worker? (Does he/she have a specific project or work for a short period of time at the club or does he/she work continuously at the club?) If little time is spent at the club, then he/she is an IC.

• What nature and degree of control does the club have over the worker? (Does he/she set his/her own schedule, fees, and does he/she have the ability to work for others, or is he/she supervised, trained, clothed or disciplined by club?) If there is little control by the club, then he/she is an IC.

• Is the work performed integral to the club’s business? (Does the club need this job to be done - is it critical, necessary or central to the club’s business?) If it is not integral, then he/she is an IC.

• Are the worker’s skills unique or specialized and does he/she use that fact in a business-like manner? (Does he/she bring something to the club it does not have and would not train its employees to do?) If the skills are unique, then he/she is an IC.

In the end, this proposed rule focuses on whether the worker is economically dependent on the club for work or, as a matter of economic reality, in business for himself. Unfortunately, these six factors may make it more difficult to accurately label workers as ICs moving forward (which, incidentally, was the intent of the rule when it was created).

There is no doubt that the process of determining whether a worker is an employee or an IC can be a tricky one, and it is fraught with liability if the wrong decision is made. Not only are there employment tax issues that can arise, but there are also major issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — the law that sets wage and hour requirements — that can lead to stiff penalties and fines.

Ultimately, this new rule was created to bolster the FLSA and help minimize “wage theft” from employers who wrongly classify workers as ICs rather than employees. As such, this new rule has the effect of allowing DOL to investigate claims that you failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to workers who you thought were independent contractors.

In addition, please be aware that this DOL rule does not alter state IC classification laws, which have become more restrictive (especially in club states like California, New York and New Jersey). Furthermore, not only can the federal and state DOL pursue action against you, but workers can file claims against your club themselves — usually as under a class action lawsuit. So, this might be the right time to bring this issue to your board’s attention.

DOL’s proposed rule is open for comments from the general public until the end of November, but I do not see significant changes being made. With that in mind, the final rule will likely go into effect at the beginning of the year — or in two and a half months.

Now that the DOL has spoken, club leaders should begin taking a long, hard look at how they classify their workers and re-evaluate those classifications where necessary to minimize potential liability. Regrettably, it is clear that while we may call some of our workers ICs, this new rule might not.

Brad Steele, J.D. has 15 years of experience in the private club industry and is founder of Private Club Consultants (PCC), which provides in-depth legal and operational answers for private clubs in America.