In Colorado and elsewhere, how one’s job status is classified can make a big impact on one’s pay and ability to receive benefits. Recently, a man in another state has filed a class action lawsuit against his employer, United Van Lines, claiming that his employment status was misclassified. By having him listed as an independent contractor instead of a full-time employee, his income allegedly suffered and he had to cover many job-related expenses out of pocket.
According to the plaintiff’s complaint, he has worked for United Van Lines for over a decade. During all that time, he claims that his pay was determined by how much the company received per line haul. In many cases, due to the number of hours worked per day, which was many times up to 16 hours, his pay came out to less than minimum wage. This individual also claims that he was held financially responsible for making sure the truck was in good repair, had to pay for his own fuel, was required to make truck lease payments and cover various other expenses.
United Van Lines has not publicly responded to this employee’s claims. The plaintiff has asked that his case be heard in front of a jury. He is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. At this point, it is unclear when this case will go to trial.
When one’s job is misclassified, it can take a real toll on one’s financial and emotional health. Those in Colorado and elsewhere who believe that their employers have purposely misclassified their employment status may seek damages through legal means. An experienced employment law attorney can help with this.
Source: stlrecord.com, “Delivery truck driver alleges United Van Lines misclassified employee status”, Noddy A. Fernandez, June 11, 2017