Posts tagged Beacon Center
Freelancers sue over new rules on independent contractors
July 8, 2024 // “It really coerces a lot of companies to try to put people, put workers in the employee box just so that they can be sure that they have their bases covered,” says Wen Fa, an attorney and vice president of legal affairs at the Beacon Center of Tennessee, a nonprofit think tank that advocates for individual rights and free market public policies. “Ultimately, what we’re fighting for is the right to freelance.” Fa is representing Margaret Littman and Jennifer Chesak — Nashville-based freelance writers and authors whose bylines collectively include The Washington Post, Men’s Health, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler.
Everything You Need to Know About the Department of Labor Independent Contractor Rule
March 12, 2024 // The DOL does not provide an analysis of how many independent contractors will actually become employees. Let’s say a company is contracting with 100 photographers, all of whom are affected by this rule: how many of those photographers will become employees? It’s clearly not all 100 of them. To unpack the potential benefits (and costs) on workers, we need some analysis into how many of those 100 freelance photographers would become employees. Another consideration for the benefits side of the equation is whether most independent contractors are currently working with small businesses or larger ones. This matters because, as I point out in a previous post, many small businesses do not provide healthcare insurance, retirement benefits, or maternity benefits to their employees. This means that the “benefits” differences between an independent contractor and an employee at a small business are smaller than expected.
Opinion: This Looming Regulatory Change Is Endangering Your Entrepreneurial Livelihood. Here’s What You Can Do About It.
March 7, 2024 // On the independent contractor language, the U.S. Department of Labor acknowledges in its new rule that there may be "conceptual overlap" with the ABC Test's most harmful section to independent contractors. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the "DOL's claim that the regulation does not reflect the ABC Test leaves something to be desired." The independent contractor CRA was introduced in the House and Senate in early March with more than 70 co-sponsors and needs more in both chambers to advance. Federal lawsuits have been filed against both federal agencies, trying to stop these policy changes through the courts. But, given the snail's pace with which the wheels of justice can turn, it's important for Congress to act.
CELEBRATING THE HISTORIC JANUS DECISION FIVE YEARS LATER
June 27, 2023 //
Why the secret union ballot is the new battle for worker freedom in Tennessee | Opinion
April 3, 2023 // Now, state leaders like me are standing up for workers’ freedom, once again, through Senate Bill 650. The issue at hand threatening Tennesseans’ right to work is union elections. When a workplace decides to vote on whether or not to organize under a labor union, the vote is unlike the private voting experience of citizens during a political election. Unfortunately, many workers must cast their votes in an open election, with their choice made public to union organizers. Due to the lack of privacy of the vote, many workers are subjected to a public pressure campaign by union officials bent on collecting enough signatures to unionize the workplace. The process is called card check.
Institute for the American Worker Head Vinnie Vernuccio: Tennessee Is Leading the Way with Right-to-Work 2.0
March 15, 2023 // You made it a constitutional right, so it can’t be repealed like Michigan. Now you’re going even further, you’re doing right to work 2.0 by making sure employees of companies that get economic incentives, the secret ballot for them in unionization elections is protected. And your governor is also out there, Governor Lee is protecting teachers’ paychecks, not only giving them raises, but also making sure they get their full paycheck. And part of it isn’t siphoned off and given to teachers’ unions.
Tennessee adds right-to-work to state constitution
November 10, 2022 // Tennessee sent a clear message around the country yesterday: Worker freedom is a constitutional right that must be protected. Voters approved Amendment 1 by a two to one margin, elevating right-to-work from law to a constitutionally protected right in Tennessee. The amendment swept all 95 counties in the Volunteer State. Gov. Frank Keating, Gov. Bill Haslam, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally,
Tennessee’s Amendment 1 would add right-to-work to state’s constitution, unions oppose it
September 26, 2022 // "Through unions, employees can be forced to join something that they disagree with," said Justin Owen, the president of the Beacon Center of Tennessee, a conservative think tank. "That violates their freedom of association and should ultimately be left up to the individual. Tennessee has a complicated constitutional amendment process. For Amendment 1 to pass, it must receive more yes votes than no votes. In addition, the number of yes votes must also be greater than 50% of all the votes cast in the governor's election.