The United States Department of Labor has awarded $10,225,183 to 19 states to implement and improve missclassification detection and enforcement initiatives in unemployment insurance programs. The Secretary of Labor was quoted saying “This is one of many actions the department is taking to help level the playing field for employees while ensuring workers receive appropriate rights and protections.” These funds will be used to increase the ability of the state UI tax programs to identify instances where the employer has missclassified employess as contractors or have failed to report the wages paid to these workers at all. The states the have been approved to use the grant may use the funds for a variety of improvement and initatives such as enhancing audit programs and beginnig employer education iniatives. The states that have received the grant are as follows:
California for a total of $499,792
Delaware for a total of $27,672
Florida for a total of $31,792
Hawai for a total of $500,000
Idaho for a total of $500,000
Indiana for a total of $500,000
Maryland for a total of $494,600
Massachusetts for a total of $499,800
New Hampshire for a total of $330,468
New Jersey for a total of $838,621
New Mexico for a total of $499,970
New York for a total of $500,000
Oregon for a total of $500,000
South Dakota for a total of $500,000
Tennessee for a total of $499,260
Texas for a total of $1,275,529
Utah for a total of $827,973
Vermont for a total of $500,000
Wisconsin for a total of $499,607