In episode 148, Coffey talks with Krystal Yates about the US Department of Labor's revised rules for classifying independent contractors. They discuss the difference between an employee and an independent contractor; “1099 employees”; the reasons employers might misclassify employees as independent contractors; “gig” workers; the changes brought about by the final rule; employer considerations when determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor; the economic reality test factors that serve as a guide to determine if an employment relationship exists under the FLSA; and common mistakes made by employers when hiring and managing contractors. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: Krystal Yates is a certified HR expert with SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications. She is the President and Founder of EBR HR Experts and Integrity People Group, overseeing HR strategy for several small and medium businesses in DFW. Prior to starting her own firm, Krystal worked for several small businesses in DFW, overseeing HR and Operations. Krystal is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council. She serves on the Feral Friends Community Cat Alliance board, is a Trustee for The Longhorn Group of Charities Unit Accounting Trust, and volunteers with DallasHR and the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce. Krystal Yates can be reached at: www.IntegrityPeopleGroup.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalyates About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, human resources professional, licensed private investigator, and HR consultant. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations firm helping risk-averse companies make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business. Today, Imperative serves hundreds of businesses across the US and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence and has twice been named HR Professional of the Year. Additionally, Imperative has been named the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike is a member of the Fort Worth chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and volunteers with the SHRM Texas State Council. Mike maintains his certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute. He is also a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Mike lives in Fort Worth with his very patient wife. He practices yoga and maintains a keto diet, about both of which he will gladly tell you way more than you want to know. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the difference between employees and independent contractors. 2. Utilize the classification factors outlined in the Department of Labor’s final rule.  3. Avoid common mistakes employers make in hiring and managing independent contractors.