FedEx to Pay $2.3 Million Over Independent Contractors

FedEx Corp. will pay the state of Montana a $2.3 million settlement over misclassification of FedEx Ground drivers as independent contractors, Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock announced Oct. 21.

The settlement follows a yearlong investigation by Montana that found FedEx Ground drivers are employees, not independent contractors, and that FedEx owed unemployment taxes, penalties and interest, according to the attorney general’s office.

Montana will reimburse drivers $1.1 million for unemployment insurance coverage that was paid by them. The remaining $1.2 million will go to the state’s general fund.

FedEx did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement.

“As a result of the investigation, FedEx will change its business practices in Montana,” according to the attorney general’s office. FedEx Ground will “implement a new pickup and delivery model in Montana,” the office reported.  

Filed by Staffing Industry Analysts, a sister company of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

Stay informed and connected. Get human resources news and HR features via Workforce Management’s Twitter feed or RSS feeds for mobile devices and news readers.

Guidelines: Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. You are fully responsible for the content you post.