For many people, working as an independent contractor can be highly beneficial, but it comes with tradeoffs compared to a more traditional employment relationship. Understanding your rights can help you make the most out of your working relationship with your employer. Here are five important things you should know about your rights as an independent contractor:
- Independent contractors generally have more freedom than employees
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- As a general rule, independent contractors have more freedom in their working relationship compared to regular employees. They can often dictate their own schedule, decide where and how to work, and broadly do not get the same oversight as employees do. This can make the independent contractor relationship preferable for many people with less conventional professions.
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- Independent contractors do not get the same labor protections
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- One of the major downsides to this, however, is that independent contractors generally do not receive the same sorts of legal protections that employees do. For example, as an independent contractor, you are generally not protected by anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII or the ADA. You also are generally not protected by wage and hour laws, such as minimum wage or overtime laws.
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- Independent contractors are responsible for their own Social Security taxes
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- Another essential issue to consider is the matter of Social Security taxes. For employees, half their taxes are paid by their employer, while the other half is automatically withheld from their paycheck. As an independent contractor, you are responsible for paying the full amount of your Social Security taxes yourself, which is important to consider as part of your compensation.
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- Independent contractors are not entitled to benefits not in their contract
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- An important part of the independent contractor relationship is that it does not come with benefits like sick leave, vacation time, or access to employee benefits by default. If you want those protections, they must be included as part of the terms of your contract. This is why you need to make sure your contract is negotiated as effectively as possible from the outset.
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- You need a lawyer to get the best contract possible
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- To ensure you get the most out of being an independent contractor, you need to make sure your contract is negotiated by an experienced employment law attorney. That is why you should speak to Steve Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, who has decades of experience handling cases like yours. The sooner you call, the sooner he can get to work for you.
Steven Mitchell Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, is a New York employment lawyer with more than 46 years’ experience handling the many aspects of employment law. His new book, “Fired!: Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” is available in hardback, and contains valuable advice on dealing with employment and labor law issues. To purchase the book, feel free to contact Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or visit the website at legalstratpub.com. To inquire about a legal matter, please feel free to contact attorney Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or stevensackatty@hotmail.com.
