Katherine Alvarez

Managing Editor

Recent Articles

Temp safety roundup: OSHA cites two buyers, staffing providers, for serious temp injuries

18 November 2015

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited two separate companies and their respective staffing suppliers after unrelated accidents in which temps suffered amputations.

Enhancing temp safety: OSHA, trade group release video on staffing clients’ role

11 November 2015

In conjunction with the American Staffing Association, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a safety video addressing the role of staffing clients in ensuring temporary worker safety. 

Snack food company, staffing providers to pay contingents more than $2 million

3 November 2015

A food manufacturer and its staffing providers will pay more than $2.1 million in back wages and damages to contingents who were not paid overtime.

Oregon official: Uber drivers employees, not independent contractors

21 October 2015

Uber drivers are employees, not independent contractors, according to an advisory opinion released last week by an Oregon state official. But Oregonlive.com reports Uber has fired back, arguing its drivers are independent contractors.

Workplace deaths among contractors continue to rise

23 September 2015

The number of contractors killed in workplace accidents rose for the third year in 2014, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Legislators seek to undo NLRB ‘joint employer’ decision

16 September 2015

Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to roll back the National Labor Relations Board’s decision that expanded the definition of joint employment.

Alaska becomes 25th state to join feds’ IC misclassification program

19 August 2015

Alaska signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the US Department of Labor to crack down on the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

Kentucky joins feds’ misclassification fight

22 July 2015

Kentucky became the 23rd state to sign a memorandum of understanding with the US Department of Labor to crack down on misclassification of employees as independent contractors.

New penalties set for foreign temp worker violations in Canada

8 July 2015

Hopes for relaxed rules in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker program were quickly dashed when Canadian officials announced stiffer penalties for noncompliance.

Independent workforce swells to 18 million full-time workers

1 July 2015

The independent workforce grew 12% over the past five years, reaching nearly 18 million full-time independent workers in 2015, according to the first release of data from MBO Partners’ 2015 State of Independence in America research.