Workers who are misclassified as independent contractors in New York are getting the help they deserve. Governor Eliot Spitzer announced a new Executive Order today aimed at preventing employee misclassification. The order creates a Joint Enforcement Task Force that will work to strengthen enforcement. Change to Win Executive Director Greg Tarpinian joined Governor Spitzer at the announcement.

Employers misclassify their workers to avoid complying with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and disability insurance laws, to skirt social security taxes and to get around paying for retirement and health benefits. Employees who are misclassified are not covered under minimum wage and prevailing wage laws, have no right to overtime or rest periods, and have no right to join a union.