{"id":8526,"date":"2025-05-02T11:46:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T11:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=8526"},"modified":"2026-10-30T11:04:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T16:04:16","slug":"dol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/dol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"DOL Won&#8217;t Enforce Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-not-stacked-on-mobile lnrs-hide-block-on-desktop is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by: <\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-396749221673b8ac7695565b15cd4cd4 wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/author\/michael-cardman\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Michael Cardman<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-desktop is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e2981758 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"addtoany_shortcode\"><div class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_28 addtoany_list\" data-a2a-url=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/dol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule\/\" data-a2a-title=\"DOL Won\u2019t Enforce Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule\"><a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"LinkedIn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"Facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_email\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"Email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The US Department of Labor (DOL) will no longer enforce\u00a0regulations issued by the Biden administration last year\u00a0that made it more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/sites\/dolgov\/files\/WHD\/fab\/fab2025-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new enforcement policy<\/a>&nbsp;directs DOL personnel to apply a more employer-friendly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/sites\/dolgov\/files\/WHD\/fab\/fab2025-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2008 fact sheet<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/sites\/dolgov\/files\/WHD\/opinion-letters\/FLSA\/FLSA2019-6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2019 opinion letter<\/a>&nbsp;when investigating misclassification cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;This approach provides greater clarity for businesses and workers navigating modern work arrangements while legal and regulatory questions are resolved,&#8221; the DOL said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business groups, freelancer workers and others have filed multiple lawsuits seeking to overturn the 2024 independent contractor rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOL has\u00a0asked\u00a0the courts to temporarily pause these cases to allow the agency&#8217;s new leadership time to reconsider and potentially rescind the Biden-era rule. At least one federal appellate court has\u00a0granted\u00a0the DOL&#8217;s request to put its case on hold, but cautioned that the pause &#8220;is not indefinite in duration and is subject to reconsideration at any time.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the DOL repeals the 2024 rule, it could restore a\u00a0more employer-friendly independent contractor rule\u00a0that the Trump administration promulgated in 2020, or it could simply leave a regulatory hole, in which case a body of case law known as the\u00a0economic realities test\u00a0\u00a0would likely be used to determine worker classification under the FLSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employers may wish to revisit these tests to see if any workers currently classified as employees might be reclassified as independent contractors under a more relaxed FLSA standard; of course, employers simultaneously should consider any relevant independent contractor tests under\u00a0common law, the\u00a0federal tax code,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/federal-employment-law\/\">other federal laws<\/a>\u00a0and miscellaneous\u00a0state laws.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-25208b0e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"addtoany_shortcode\"><div class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_28 addtoany_list\" data-a2a-url=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/dol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule\/\" data-a2a-title=\"DOL Won\u2019t Enforce Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule\"><a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"LinkedIn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><a class=\"a2a_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/add_to\/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brightmine.com%2Fus%2Fresources%2Fhr-compliance%2Femployment-law-updates%2Fdol-wont-enforce-biden-era-independent-contractor-rule%2F&amp;linkname=DOL%20Won%E2%80%99t%20Enforce%20Biden-Era%20Independent%20Contractor%20Rule\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" 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is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-avatar\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/09\/18075013\/michael-cardman-150x150.webp\" width=\"96\" height=\"96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/09\/18075013\/michael-cardman.webp 2x\" alt=\"Michael Cardman\" class=\"avatar avatar-96 wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-96 alignnone photo wp-block-avatar__image\" \/ style=\"border-top-left-radius:500px; border-top-right-radius:500px; border-bottom-left-radius:500px; border-bottom-right-radius:500px;\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-23777fc9 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confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organization up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#top\">Go back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group 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style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/payroll-compliance-is-entering-a-new-era-five-steps-employers-should-take-now\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/23103344\/Feature-Brightmine-HR-payroll-manager-reviewing-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"sync\" src=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/lnrs-resources-filter\/assets\/images\/category-flag.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Commentary and Insights<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/payroll-compliance-is-entering-a-new-era-five-steps-employers-should-take-now\/\">Payroll compliance is entering a new era: Five steps employers should take now<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">Discover five steps employers can take to strengthen payroll compliance, improve data controls and prepare for changing legal &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new enforcement policy directs US Department of Labor investigators to apply criteria that make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":8527,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"resource-author","categories":[55],"tags":[],"topic":[87,63,85],"class_list":["post-8526","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-news","topic-employee-classification","topic-employment-law-updates","topic-wage-hour"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>DOL Won&#039;t Enforce Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A new enforcement policy directs US Department of Labor investigators to apply criteria that make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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