The Kansas Department of Labor is recognizing the month of March as Fraud Awareness Month, with a focus on the misclassification of workers. KDOL’s Unemployment Insurance Tax/Employer Division is committed to preventing, detecting and investigating worker misclassification to ensure employees receive the protections and benefits they are entitled to under the law.
Worker misclassification occurs when an employer incorrectly classifies an employee as an independent contractor rather than an employee. This practice denies workers essential rights, including minimum wage requirements, overtime pay, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and protection under anti-discrimination laws. Kansas Labor Secretary, Amber Shultz, says intentional misclassification constitutes tax and insurance evasion, and KDOL will continue working diligently to hold non-compliant employers accountable. Employers who misclassify workers—whether unintentionally or intentionally—may face significant penalties and fines from KDOL and the Kansas Department of Revenue.
