Report: Judge Sides with FedEx in Contractor Case

A U.S. District judge in Indiana ruled that FedEx Corp.'s ground drivers were independent contractors, and not employees, in 20 of 28 class-action cases, Reuters reported.

In the 182-page decision, Judge Robert Miller Jr. noted that FedEx's controls on drivers were results-oriented and that FedEx can't discharge drivers on a whim the way an at-will employment relationship can be ended as indicating the drivers were independent contractors. A driver's entrepreneurial opportunities were also persuasive in the ruling, according to the judge.

More than 50 lawsuits by FedEx drivers were consolidated into one lawsuit, according to reports. The judge previously ruled that FedEx drivers in Kansas were independent contractors.

Drivers sued seeking a determination that they are employees, and not independent contractors, to get reimbursement of business expenses, back pay for overtime and other wages.  

Filed by Staffing Industry Analysts, a sister company of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

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