Ellen Golombek, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, signed Monday a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors.

The memorandum enables the DOL to share information and to coordinate enforcement efforts with the state in its efforts reduce misclassifications. This partnership is the 11th of its kind for the U.S. Department of Labor. Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Utah and Washington have signed similar agreements.

In 2010, the Wage and Hour Division collected nearly $4 million in back wages for minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act that resulted from employees being misclassified as independent contractors or otherwise not treated as employees.