The implications of this legislation have been discussed here before, when the bills were introduced in 2021. See Who is the Employer? (March 2021). The bill is of interest in the workers' compensation community because we have a fair number of opportunities to examine the "employer/employee relationship" in the context of various statutory sections. The application of workers' compensation in Florida is dependent upon that employment relationship. See section 440.09, Coverage.
One area in which this presents challenges is misclassification. See Did Dirkson have it Right (September 2014); Misclassification, What is it (January 2015); Misclassification and Regulation (November 2015). There are multiple ways to strive to avoid the implications and costs of participating in the workers' compensation system. Characterizing workers as independent contractors has persistently been one of these. More recently, the challenges of the "gig" economy have brought debate, questions, and even legislation regarding the relationship.
Classification is of import with the so-called "gig" workers. They may each periodically find her/himself in comp, out of comp, or in "it depends." See The Gig Economy (March 2018); Giggin Again (April 2021). Various states have taken this on in various ways, but questions abound. See The Gig of Participatory Democracy (December 2020). The challenges in California and the interplay between its legislative and judicial branches has been interesting to many and troubling to some.
The passage of SB542 is not an amendment of the Florida workers' compensation law, and may have largely escaped the attention of the workers' compensation community. It creates a new section in Chapter 448.111. Chapter 448 is "General Labor Regulations." And, one may wonder aloud regarding the impact of this statute in workers' compensation litigation. However, there is clarity in 448.111(2) stating that this new law applies to the evidence in any "cause of action brought under s. 440.10, s. 440.192, s. 440.38, s. 440.381." Those are clearly portions of the workers' compensation law. The specificity of the new law removes doubt of applicability and should focus litigators upon this new law.
The law impacts determinations of employee status based upon "actions of a business" during either a "public health emergency" (one might here reflect upon our recent COVID, but it seems applicable to emergencies of less systemic effect than a pandemic), or "a state of emergency declared by the Governor." The statute provides that various "actions of a business . . . may not be used as evidence" when a worker is seeking "to recover lost wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation." What actions?
The specific "actions" that are not worthy of evidentiary consideration or weight include
(a) Providing financial assistance to previously engaged individuals who are unable to work because of health and safety concerns.
(b) Directly providing benefits that are related to the health and safety of engaged individuals, including medical or cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment, health checks, or medical testing.
(c) Providing training or information related to the health and safety of engaged individuals or the public.
(d) Taking any action, including action required or suggested by any federal, state, or local law, ordinance, order, or directive which is intended to protect public health and safety.
