Regulatory Threats to Flexible Employment & Worker Freedom: What Can Congress Do?

Employers and workers nationwide are facing imminent, burdensome regulations that could upend modern business practices, threaten thousands of jobs, and hinder life-changing advancements in the sharing economy. From the new joint employer standard, to the overtime rule, to whether workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors, government regulators have positioned themselves as a major obstacle to entrepreneurs and workers.

But that’s not how Congress intended the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Department of Labor (DOL) to work—Congress never authorized these unelected bureaucrats to have this much power. So, what can lawmakers do to stop regulators from unilaterally imposing these harmful changes to employment law?

Join the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) at our upcoming Hill briefing, Regulatory Threats to Flexible Employment & Worker Freedom: What Can Congress Do?, to learn more about what is at stake and discuss the options available to lawmakers to protect entrepreneurs, small business owners, and their employees from these threats to flexible work arrangements, job security and new business opportunities. The panel will cover:

• Joint Employer: The NLRB’s new “joint employer” rule would force disparate employers into a one-size-fits-all conglomerate and hold businesses responsible for the actions of other employers they don’t control, like contractors and franchises. It is detrimental to employers and employees.
• Overtime Rule: The Labor Department’s proposed overtime rule would make it harder for small businesses to create jobs and could penalize workers who choose to work more hours in order to advance their careers. This means even fewer, full-time job opportunities will be available for Americans.
• Worker Classification: The Labor Department’s position on worker classification blurs the lines between employees and independent contractors. It threatens flexible and innovative work arrangements, and could prevent businesses from offering more jobs—including certain jobs that people need or want.

WHAT: Regulatory Threats to Flexible Employment & Worker Freedom: What Can Congress Do?

WHO:

Eli Dourado​
Director, Technology and Policy Program
Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Bob Dorfman
Owner and Operator
World of Beer franchises in Northern Virginia.

Angelo I. Amador
Senior Vice President & Regulatory Counsel
National Restaurant Association.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 9 | 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.

WHERE: 2261 Rayburn House Office Building

Lunch Provided

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Questions? Email Annie Dwyer at [email protected].