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A comment on More U.S. companies charging employees for job training if they quit. Parent comment

Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by ornornor on Monday October 17, 2022 @11:23AM (#33234803)
> Did you know that car mechanics have to buy their own tools? Can you imagine developing software and having to bring your own computer and devices?

IANAL at all, but from my own research a few years back, part of the contractor test in North America and other countries is “who is providing and paying for the tools”. And when the answer is “not me”, it’s a strong indicator you’re an employee. Ergo if you’re an employee, the employer must pay for the tools to do the job (as in legally must)

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Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by ticviking on Monday October 17, 2022 @12:46PM (#33236174)
Absent a union it’s really hard to enforce those rules
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Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by ornornor on Monday October 17, 2022 @01:09PM (#33236585)
True. But it seems like the wind is turning a little in the US about unions.
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Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by wingspar on Monday October 17, 2022 @01:30PM (#33236928)
My understanding of the mechanics with their own tools was for the practical matter of stopping theft/damage.

You’re much more likely to keep your tools in working order and not let them walk away if they’re your tools.

Equipment the shop supplies is less likely to walk away. Like a 100gal air compressor or car lift.

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Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by JamesianP on Monday October 17, 2022 @03:20PM (#33238303)
The contractor tests differ between fields though. The laws were written specifically to go after the big software consulting industry that appears a few decades ago to force them to become employees. They grandfathered in other job roles that were historically operating over the line one way or another.
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Re:More U.S. companies charging employees for job training i... by sokoloff on Monday October 17, 2022 @07:50PM (#33241146)
The “who provides the tools?” is just one test among several, which is not enough to conclude the employer legally must provide tools to employees under all circumstances.
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