As an independent contractor in Los Angeles, you have certain rights and responsibilities. Understanding the law as it applies to independent contractors can help you protect your interests, avoid legal problems, and resolve disputes if they arise.
An experienced Los Angeles independent contractor attorney can advise you on the law and help you assert your rights. If you are facing a legal dispute, an attorney can also represent you in court or arbitration.
What Is an Independent Contractor?
An independent contractor is a person or company that contracts with another person or company to do a particular job or provide a service. The contract may be written or oral. The key characteristic of an independent contractor relationship is that the contractor is not an employee of the company they are doing work for.
This distinction is important because employees have certain legal protections that independent contractors do not. For example, employees are entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay, workers' compensation if they are injured on the job, and unemployment benefits if they lose their job. Independent contractors are not entitled to these benefits. To know what your rights are, call Leichter Law Firm an employment law firm in Los Angeles.
The Difference Between an Employee and an Independent Contractor
There is no single test to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Courts will look at the overall relationship between the worker and the company they are doing work for to make this determination.