Are Mandatory Conferences Legal Requirement for Independent Contractors?
By KizzyCatfish
@KizzyCatfish (426)
United States
September 5, 2011 8:51pm CST
I work as an Independent Contractor for a national publishing company selling advertising. The require a minimum of two attendances at National Conferences a year to maintain the status of an independent contractor with them. The Conferences are held in a city which requires that I pay the airfare and 1/2 of the hotel cost while I am there unless I share a room with somebody that I don't know. I am also required to pay for some of the meals while away from home. These conferences require me to be away from home for three or four days at a time. They would prefer that I attend three of the conferences a year and take a trip with the company over and above the conferences. Is this legal?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
23 Nov 15
I don't know so this is just a guess. You are an independent contractor and can take assignments or not take them as you wish. They can hire whichever independent contractor they like for each assignment.
So they can choose to only hire ICs who have gone to the Conferences. Just as I can choose to only hire a painter who has a type of training I value. I can't actually make someone take the training, but I can seek out the ones who have.
They can't make you go to the conferences but they can seek out the ICs who have gone to them.
