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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 In the now withdrawn guidance, the USDOL said that the test to determine whether an individual was misclassified should be applied in a “broad” manner, and, once applied, most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.
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Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Revamp Your Components with BGA Reballing
10/14/2025 | Nash Bell -- Column: Knocking Down the Bone PileBall grid array (BGA) components evolved from pin grid array (PGA) devices, carrying over many of the same electrical benefits while introducing a more compact and efficient interconnect format. Instead of discrete leads, BGAs rely on solder balls on the underside of the package to connect to the PCB. In some advanced designs, solder balls are on both the PCB and the BGA package. In stacked configurations, such as package-on-package (PoP), these solder balls also interconnect multiple packages, enabling higher functionality in a smaller footprint.
New Course Presents a Comprehensive Guide to IPC Standards
10/10/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Francisco Fourcade, electronics technology standards manager for the Global Electronics Association, has spent years helping companies understand and implement the standards that keep the electronics manufacturing industry moving forward. In this interview, he shares updates on ongoing standards development efforts and previews a new course, "IPC Standards: A Guide for the Electronics Industry,” which starts Oct. 14.
North American EMS Industry Shipments Down 1.4% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.26.
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 12.8% in August
10/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced the August 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.98.
Industry Leaders Shape a Sustainable Future at 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference
09/30/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Shanghai Pudong Association for Quality and Technology, successfully concluded on September 26 in Shanghai.