What constitutes an independent contractor? While the definition is often fuzzy, and even puzzling to some HR managers, it is now crystal-clear to Cascom Inc. in Fairfield, Ohio.

Cascom learned the definition the hard way. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor investigated the cable company and ruled that it had misclassified 250 cable guys as independent workers when they should have been paid as company employees.

Result: Cascom violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and was found liable for nearly $1.5 million in back wages and liquidated damages.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.