The big picture: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed significant new rules for classifying independent contractors and determining joint employment status. These changes aim to provide clearer guidance and enhance worker protections under federal labor laws.

Why it matters: These proposals could fundamentally alter how businesses, particularly staffing firms, engage with contingent workers and manage potential co-employer liabilities. Compliance and operational models across industries will be impacted.

Between the lines:

• The proposed rule reinstates an