Graphic Designer Properly Found to Be an Employee

The Third Department affirmed the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board’s conclusion that a graphic designer was an employee, not an independent contractor:

…[I]t is well settled that the existence of an employment relationship is a factual issue for the Board to resolve and its determination will not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence … . “The determination rests not on one single factor, but consideration is given to whether control was exercised over the results or the means used to achieve those results, with the latter factor deemed more important” … .

Here, claimant responded to a website posting and, after being interviewed, was selected by Propoint to work on client projects at a mutually agreed pay rate of $28 per hour. He was paid every two weeks regardless of whether Propoint received payment from the client. Although there were no set working hours, claimant performed most of his work at the employer’s premises, where he was provided with a computer, software and related items, and he was required to turn in daily time cards. Propoint did not provide claimant with any leave time or other benefits, withhold taxes from his paychecks or prohibit him from working for others, and it required him to sign an independent contractor agreement. Propoint, however, retained the right to review claimant’s work product and direct him to make changes. Moreover, the confidentiality provisions of the independent contractor agreement precluded claimant from including client projects in his personal portfolio. Inasmuch as the foregoing demonstrates that Propoint retained control over both the means and the results of claimant’s work, substantial evidence supports the Board’s finding of an employment relationship… . Matter of Ramirez (Propoint Graphics LLC–Commissioner of Labor), 2015 NY Slip Op 02825, 3rd Dept 4-2-15