Independent contractors are often utilized in the construction industry due to short-term needs and the many trades associated with construction projects. In an authored article published by Construction Executive, Lariza Hebert discusses the “common law” test to determine if someone is an employee or a contractor. She also advises conducting self-audits as a cost-effective way to stay on top of your classifications. In her conclusion, Lariza states, “If there is any doubt whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee, the conservative approach would be to classify the worker as an employee, to eliminate the risk of having penalties assessed against the employer.”

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