The Labor Market Transformed : Adapting Labor and Employment Law to the Rise of the Contingent Work Force

The American labor market has been at the forefront of change in adapting the new information technology and engaging in global trade. These changes have led to new and increased use of contingent employment relationships such as part-time, temporary and subcontracted work which do not neatly fall under the definition of employee in most American protective legislation. With the advent of increasing numbers of contingent workers, these labor and employment laws must be reevaluated. In expanding upon Dr Richard S. Belous' previous critical analysis, this paper argues for a broader statutory definition of employee in current and future protective legislation based on economic realities of dependency and control