A disagreement has arisen over whether temporary nurses should be classified as employees or independent contractors. While a coalition of 30 healthcare staffing firms recently wrote a letter to the US Department of Labor requesting the agency clarify that temporary nurses should be classified as employees, an opposing viewpoint has arisen. Law firm Littler Mendelson wrote a letter on behalf of clients arguing the independent contractor classification should be allowed for nurses, Becker’s Hospital Review reported. The letter was sent to the Department of Labor on Oct. 10. “Littler Mendelson argues that staffing platforms use vastly different business models that could not be covered by a ‘one-size-fits-all’ rule. The relationship between nurses and staffing platforms is often brief and sporadic, and was overstated by the coalition, the firm alleges,” according to Becker’s Hospital Review.

SIA has reached out to sources, including Littler Mendelson, for more information.