Employee classification mistakes often start with reasonable-sounding assumptions: a worker asks to be paid as a contractor, a manager is paid a salary, or a position has always been handled a certain way. But titles, payment methods, and past practices do not determine whether a worker is classified correctly.
In this webinar, CEDR will walk dental practice owners and managers through the fundamentals of employee classification and wage compliance. Attendees will learn how to evaluate whether a worker should be treated as an employee or independent contractor, understand the requirements for exempt and non-exempt classifications, identify common red flags, and recognize when a classification decision deserves a closer review.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the two separate classification decisions employers may need to make: employee vs. independent contractor and exempt vs. non-exempt.
2. Identify key factors used to evaluate independent contractor status, including behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship between the parties.
3. Recognize why salary or job title alone does not make an employee exempt and describe the role of salary basis, applicable salary thresholds, and job duties in the exemption analysis.
4. Spot common classification and wage-compliance red flags that may expose a practice to back wages, penalties, or recordkeeping problems.
5. Determine which members of the practice should be involved in classification decisions and reviews, including owners, administrators, HR/payroll leads, and operations leaders.
