The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to decide a novel question that promises to have broad impact on businesses and workers: what test should be used to distinguish between employees and independent contractors for purposes of wage-and-hour law compliance.

The justices took up the issue at the request of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Hargrove v. Sleepy's, a would-be class-action suit against a New York-based seller of mattresses, pillows and other bed-related items.