Beware of These Platforms—They’re Putting Your Business at Risk

There are many misconceptions surrounding on-demand labor platforms. Too often, businesses prioritize securing the lowest price or “race to the bottom” without fully understanding the implications. In the short term, cost-cutting may seem like a win—possibly even earning decision-makers a promotion. However, blindly selecting a platform based solely on something like price can lead to serious issues down the road.

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What’s the Issue?

Many of these red-flag platforms market themselves as staffing firms and operate as such. Here’s the catch: when approaching businesses, they offer cheap labor by classifying workers as independent contractors, avoiding the tax and benefit obligations that come with W-2 employment. The problem? You can’t call yourself staffing, operate as staffing, and then classify your workers as independent contractors. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

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What Does This Mean for Your Business?

While some HR teams may prioritize the cheapest option or use these platforms without fully understanding the risks, they won’t be able to ignore the legal consequences when they inevitably arise. Courts have consistently ruled that staffing agencies are considered the employers of the workers they provide. A joint employment relationship is almost always established in these cases.

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That means businesses using these platforms could face:

• Unpaid overtime claims (including treble damages)

• Costly violations for inadequate notice requirements

• Massive legal fees and fines

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What seemed like a cost-saving move or the right option could quickly lead to layoffs, financial turmoil, and reputational damage—all because of a shortsighted decision.

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The Solution: Choose Compliance. Choose Veryable.

If a platform calls itself a staffing firm and operates as one, using it means walking into a compliance nightmare. The risks are not hidden—they’re right there on their websites.

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Veryable is different. We ensure true 1099 compliance in every jurisdiction. We don’t call ourselves a staffing firm or operate like one. We are a digital manufacturing tool designed to help businesses scale with a fully compliant on-demand labor model.

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With Veryable, businesses gain access to a flexible pool of independent contractors—Operators—who are looking for work opportunities, not full-time employment. Operators use Veryable to pick up work as it fits their schedules, allowing businesses to scale incrementally on top of their fixed workforce (FTEs or temps).

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We’ve built our platform with compliance and your business in mind. So, next time you're choosing between platforms, be careful—choose Veryable.

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To learn more, check out these articles:

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Veryable: The Trusted Choice For Safety

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The Meritocratic Advantage of Veryable

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If you have any questions, please contact us.