Federal Legislation Could Force Tough Hiring Decisions for Multi-Farrier Practices

What you need to know before converting independent contractors to employees

Second in a Series:

This is the second in a series examining the potential effects of the federal Protecting the Right to Organize Act on farriers’ hiring practices and their hoof-care businesses.

Farrier Takeaways

  • Employers should consult with the appropriate state and federal agencies to ensure legal compliance.
  • Withholding or payments of  employment taxes must be deposited and reported on a monthy or semi-weekly basis.
  • Employees are entitled to overtime pay that is 1 ½ times their regular rate of pay when they work more than 40 hours a week.
  • Employers must supply employees the appropriate safety equipment and training.
  • Farriers can expect worker’s compensation insurance premiums to cost at least $4,500 annually.

Demand for equine hoof-care services across the United States are at its highest levels in recent memory, stretching farriers thin. Yet, proposed changes to federal labor law could force multi-farrier practices into tough decisions that could make it increasingly difficult to service clients.

House Bill 842 and Senate Bill 420 — both titled Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2021 — aim to amend the National Labor Regulations Act (NLRA) by replacing the Common Law Rules with a full ABC Test as its definition of employee.

The House passed its version, 225-206. It was sent to the Senate, which read the bill twice and referred it to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The Senate’s version was read twice and referred to the same committee.

Should the Pro Act become law, it will…

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Jeff cota 2023

Jeff Cota

Jeff Cota has been a writer, photographer and editor with newspapers and magazines for 30 years. A native of Maine, he is the Lead Content Editor of American Farriers Journal.

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