Musician Was Employee

The Third Department determined claimant, a musician who accompanied the Young People’s Chorus of New York (YPCNY) was an employee of YPCNY and therefore was entitled to unemployment benefits:

Here, YPCNY provided claimant with the date, time and place for the concerts, the rehearsal times and the music to be performed. Claimant was paid a set rate of between $250 and $600 per concert and YPCNY paid his travel expenses. YPCNY would inform claimant of the required dress code for the concerts and claimant was required to inform YPCNY if he was going to be late or absent. YPCNY’s president was the musical conductor at the concerts and was responsible for handling complaints about the musicians. While there is other evidence in the record that would support a different result, the foregoing constitutes substantial evidence supporting the Board’s decision that YPCNY exercised sufficient control over the services provided by the musicians to establish an employment relationship … . Matter of North (Young People’s Chorus of N.Y.–Commissioner of Labor), 2015 NY Slip Op 08486, 3rd Dept 11-19-15