Revisiting Californias Worker Classification Law AB 5

In 2019, AB 5 was signed into law with an effective date of 1/1/2020. Under AB 5, most workers are presumed to be employees for purposes of the Labor Code, the Unemployment Insurance Code, and for most wage orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission unless a hiring entity satisfies a three-factor test, referred to as the ABC test. This means that many workers previously classified as independent contractors are now employees under California law and you must withhold California income and payroll taxes, and meet California’s minimum wage and overtime requirements. The ABC test Under the ABC test, all three of these conditions must be met in order to treat the worker as an independent contractor: The worker is free from the control and direction of the...