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What is Your Potential Liability for Misclassifying an Independent Contractor?

From a strictly legal perspective, the safest course if you are in doubt about whether someone should be a contractor or an employee is to pay them as a W2 employee.  After all, there are no legal consequences to treating someone as an employee who could be an independent contractor, but there are potential legal claims in the opposite scenario.

There are, however, costs associated with moving a contractor to employee status, so it is important for you to have clarity about the potential damages so you can make an informed risk-benefit decision.

An employee who proves they were misclassified can recover basically for anything they missed by not being an employee- the 7.5% of pay that would have otherwise been the employer contribution to social security, and any holiday or vacation time or benefits that others who were employees received.  Whatever this number is in your business, remember that it will be tripled under the Wage Act, and if liable you will have to pay the employee's legal fees as well as your own.


Learn more here about damages under the Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law.

Need Help With Independent Contractor Classification?

Call (781) 784-2322
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Schedule a Free Information Call
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  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Guide To Employment Law Content
    • Advice for Employers
    • Employment Contracts in Massachusetts
    • Discrimination in the Workplace
    • Employment Termination >
      • Massachusetts Paid Family Leave
      • Severance Pay
      • Unemployment in Massachusetts
      • Should I Accept a Severance?
    • Sexual Harassment at Work >
      • Sexual Harassment in a Small Business
      • Sexual Harassment and Non Disclosure Agreements
      • Sexual Harassment and Remote Work
    • Wage and Hour Laws >
      • Overtime Law >
        • Overtime Exemptions
        • Employee Travel Time
        • Federal or State Overtime Law
      • Massachusetts Wage Act >
        • Payment of Commissions
        • Wage Deductions
        • Late Payment of Wages
        • Paid Time Off
    • Independent Contractor Law >
      • Independent Contractor Test
      • Working As Independent Contractor
      • Hiring Independent Contractors in Massachusetts
      • Is My Independent Contractor Status Legal?
    • Non Compete Agreements >
      • Are non competes enforceable
      • Massachusetts Non Compete Act
      • Pre 2018 Massachusetts Non Competes
      • Can I Avoid My Non Compete?
    • Do I Have a Case?
  • Estate Planning
    • Guide To Estate Planning Content
    • Legacy Protection
    • Why You Need an Estate Plan
    • Why You Don't Have an Estate Plan
    • Estate Planning Documents >
      • Children with Special Needs
    • Planning for Assisted Living
    • Probate Process
  • Business Law
    • Guide To Business Law Content
    • Small Business Law
    • Business Contract Basics
    • Civil Suit Defense
    • Legal Issues for Start Ups
    • Trademark Basics
    • How to Incorporate
    • Sale of Business
  • About
    • Reviews
    • Slnlaw Offices
    • slnlaw core values
    • Publications and Interviews
    • New Client Intake and Consultation
    • Contact
  • Attorneys
    • Emily Smith-Lee >
      • 2018 Lawyer of the Year
    • Jenna Ordway
    • Rebecca Rogers
    • Sharleen Tinnin
    • Elijah Bresley
  • Legal FAQs
    • Estate Planning FAQs
    • Probate FAQs
    • Small Business FAQs
    • Wage Act FAQs
    • Commission Pay FAQs
    • Overtime FAQs
    • Independent Contractor FAQs
    • Non Compete FAQs
    • Employment Discrimination FAQs
    • Employment Termination FAQs
    • Massachusettts Unemployment FAQs
    • Severance Package FAQs
    • Medical Leave FAQs
    • Sexual Harassment FAQs
    • Employer FAQs
    • Civil Lawsuit FAQs
  • Blog