The Labor Department decided on a case recently regarding the classification of gig workers, at an unnamed company. The question of whether or not gig workers are considered contractors or employees has become especially relevant since companies such as Uber and Lyft emerged, and made it easier for employees to enter the gig economy. In the case that the Labor Department decided on this week, the Department classified workers as contractors- thus, “…offer[ing] further insight into the nexus of labor law and innovations in the job market.” Critics have argued that it was inappropriate for the Labor Department to issue this decision via an opinion letter.
See "Labor Dept. Says Workers at a Gig Company Are Contractors", Noam Scheiber, The New York Times, April 29, 2019