DOL Withdraws Troublesome Guidance on Independent Contractor Classification
June 15, 2017 | IPCEstimated reading time: Less than a minute
Last week, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) was immediately withdrawing guidance published during the Obama administration that related to independent contractor misclassification and joint employment standards.
The guidance described misclassification a “problematic trend” and sought to limit businesses from classifying employees as independent contractors. In the now withdrawn guidance, the USDOL said that the test to determine whether an individual was misclassified should be applied in a “broad” manner, and, once applied, most individuals would be considered employees. While the guidance did not carry the force of law, it was relied upon by USDOL investigators and courts when examining allegations of wrongdoing, and were often cited by plaintiffs’ attorneys to support their demands.
The guidance, issued by former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, was among the many regulations identified by IPC members as burdensome, hampering businesses, and in need of reform.
Suggested Items
Top Tech in Taiwan: IPC's Blueprint to Advance Smart Manufacturing
06/04/2025 | Sydney Xiao, IPCRenowned as a global hub of innovation and a cornerstone of the electronics industry, Taiwan is leading advancements in technology and manufacturing. A decade ago, IPC established an office in Taiwan, embedding itself deeply in this innovative ecosystem. Now with nearly 200 member companies in the region, IPC remains dedicated to driving standardization, education, and technological progress in Taiwan’s electronics manufacturing sector.
IPC Releases Latest Standards and Revisions Updates
06/05/2025 | IPCEach quarter, IPC releases a list of standards that are new or have been updated. To view a complete list of newly published standards and standards revisions, translations, proposed standards for ballot, final drafts for industry review, working drafts, and project approvals, visit ipc.org/status. These are the latest releases for Q1 2025.
IPC Launches New Wire Harness Design Course Led by Defense Industry Expert
06/03/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIPC is expanding its educational offerings with a new online course designed to provide foundational knowledge in wire harness and cable design. The course, Introduction to Wire Harness Design I, is led by a seasoned mechanical engineer and subject matter expert in military cable systems working at FNSS Defense Systems in Turkey.
Nolan’s Notes: Moving Forward With Confidence
06/03/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesWe’re currently enjoying a revitalized and dynamic EMS provider market with significant growth potential. Since December 2024, the book-to-bill has been extremely strong and growing. Starting with a ratio of 1.24 in December, book-to-bill has continued to accelerate to a 1.41 in April. Yet, there is a global economic restructuring taking place. To say that the back-and-forth with tariffs and trade deals makes for an uncertain market is an understatement. While we may be in a 90-day tariff pause among leading economic nations, the deadline is quickly approaching and that leaves many of you feeling unsettled about what to expect.
IPC Issues Call for Participation for IPC APEX EXPO 2026
06/02/2025 | IPCIPC is now accepting abstracts for technical papers with presentations, posters, and professional development courses at IPC APEX EXPO 2026.