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10 most-read CWS 3.0 news stories of 2019

CWS 3.0 strives to keep contingent workforce managers informed on events that affect the workforce solutions ecosystem. As 2019 comes to a close, we look back at the most-read stories of the year.

1. Bakery could face ‘incremental liability’ in misclassification suits. Flowers Foods, which produces Wonder Bread and Tastykake, faces more than two dozen IC misclassification cases, and had agreed to settle 12 of the cases for $9 million [1].

2. Ariba and Fieldglass VMS no longer operating separately. Procurement software provider SAP Ariba and contingent workforce vendor management system SAP Fieldglass will no longer operate as separate entities. What that means to the ecosystem [2].

3. 2019 CW Program Game Changers announced. SIA announced its second annual list honoring the trendsetters within contingent workforce management. Honorees were selected based on the impact and influence each has on the profession, and on the roles they play in elevating the value of the flexible workforce. The list, found here [3], is sponsored by MBO Partners.

4. Chicago passes ‘most sweeping’ scheduling-predictive ordinance in the US. Chicago passed the “fair workweek” ordinance [4], which entitles some contingents to two weeks’ notice of schedule changes. Further, extra hours must be offered to existing part-timers and then certain existing temporary workers before others.

5. Google sets minimum wage, benefits requirements for contract workers. Google joins the ranks of firms mandating a minimum wage and other benefits [5] to temporary employees and contractors assigned to it by staffing firms, The Hill reported. Suppliers that don’t comply will no longer be able to supply talent to Google.

6. Texas approves rule allowing IC classification for gig workers. The Texas Workforce Commission has approved a rule [6] allowing the classification of “marketplace platform contractors” — those hired through digital apps such as Uber — as independent contractors.

7. Staffing client owes $600,000 after DOL wage investigation. A Pennsylvania company must pay in $598,366 in back wages, damages and penalties after its staffing firms underpaid its temporary workers [7].

8. Changing Tides: Denials, revocations, unprecedented delays on H-1B visas. Obtaining temporary work visas for highly skilled foreign workers become increasingly difficult [8] under President Trump. Firms now also report problems with keeping existing visas as well as decision delays.

9. Insurance agents are ICs, rules Sixth Circuit. Some 7,200 agents are independent contractors [9], the court said; otherwise, American Family Insurance Co. could have faced $1 billion in liabilities, according to a report. More recently, the US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the case [10], letting the ruling stand.

10. Contract or control: Ninth Circuit vacates lower court IC ruling. A district court erred [11] when it focused on the contract and not the control exerted, said the Ninth Circuit court in remanding the case.

In the next issue of CWS 3.0, we will highlight the most-read management stories from SIA’s CWM team.

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