Missouri Helps U.S. Labor Department Crack Down on Unscrupulous Employers
The state government of Missouri is working with the U.S. Department of Labor and the governments of neighboring states, including Kansas, to uncover and stop employers who try to violate federal wage rules. The violations Missouri and the Labor Department are seeking to prevent include: failures to pay the minimum wage, provide overtime, or to pay for workers' compensation and other liability insurance.
Most of the violations are related to misclassifying workers, according to a recent article in The Kansas City Star. Workers who meet the requirements to be classified as "employees" under state and federal labor law must be classified as employees and given access to workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and other basic legal rights granted to employees in a wide range of businesses.
Businesses that misclassify employees as "independent contractors" or as non-employees, however, can avoid paying payroll taxes, unemployment benefits, or workers' compensation insurance premiums or benefits. In addition to losing wages they would have otherwise earned, mis-classified workers are also at a risk of being unable to receive workers' compensation benefits if they are injured on-the-job. These benefits cover medical bills, lost wages, and other losses related to the injury so that workers can focus on rest and recovery.
Workers’ compensation benefits are a valuable tool for workers who need to get back on their feet after an on-the-job injury. If you’ve been injured in the workplace, the experienced St. Louis workers' compensation attorneys at Page Law can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515.
