No joke, in nearly all fields in CA employers have changed tens of thousands of people who were once employees, into independent contractors. This is a very big deal and not a good one for employers.
It’ll be worth it if it destroys H1-Bs.
In the construction business the trend had bad consequences.
The employer doesn’t maintain Workmen’s Compensation Insurance or insure the employee’s vehicles because “they have no employees” and damage on the job site is not their problem. They don’t follow drug policy, wage guidelines, proper overtime regulations, DOL requirements, or proper immigration employee checks.
The property owner becomes a deep pocket for every accident and the small contractor plays, “its not my problem.”
If people don’t want employees, start a partnership.