If you’re a deck builder who works almost exclusively for a single contractor, or if you have a short list of subs who work almost exclusively for you, take note: Washington increasingly views those relationships as employer/employee rather than contractor/subcontractor relationships.

The toughening stance at the Labor Department (DOL) on the issue–best exemplified by an administrator’s interpretation issued July 15 by the head of the Wage and Hour Division–has set off alerts within the construction community. At the least, Washington’s stepped-up campaign should prompt companies that treat subcontractors as independent firms to re-examine whether their business practices can pass Labor’s evolving standards. You can read more here.