Today the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division released 15 pages of guidance with examples to clarify the distinction between employees and independent contractors. The document is most likely in response to companies like Uber and Fedex that have been operating in a grey area and potentially not providing their workers with the correct protections. The document aims to inform employers how broadly defined employees are.
See "Employees vs. Independent Contractors: U.S. Weighs In on Debate Over How to Classify Workers", Melanie Trottman, July 15, 2015