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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Not All Workers Are 'Employees' But It's Hard To Know The Difference

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How the state defines employees and contractors has huge implications for taxes, benefits and pay.

How do you define an 'employee' versus a 'contractor'? This is a debate that has gone on for years at the Statehouse, but if the question were simple, it would have been solved already.

Lawmakers have tried to provide clarity on that question for freelancers and business owners. We dive into the issues of work, pay and benefits that surround independent contractors. Guests are Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, Rep. Jean O'Sullivan, Bill Driscoll of Associated Industries of Vermont, and Dan Barlow of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. (Disclosure: VPR is a member of VBSR.)

Correction 2:17 p.m. 5/5/2017: During this discussion, we mistakenly referred to a state "workers compensation fund." In fact, a designated fund does not exist, but rather the state requires employers to provide workers' compensation for their employees, which they generally do through private insurance carriers.

Broadcast live on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Patti is an integral part of VPR's news effort and part of the team that created Vermont Edition. As executive producer, Patti supervises the team that puts Vermont Edition on the air every day, working with producers to select and research show ideas, select guests and develop the sound and tone of the program.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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