A recent case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit demonstrates the ongoing struggle to apply the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to the “side gigs” that have come to signify the modern employment market. In Acosta v. Off Duty Police Services, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Nos. 17-5995/6071 (Feb. 12, 2019), the Sixth Circuit held that security offers working for Off Duty Police Services (ODPS) as a side job were employees entitled to overtime pay under the FLSA.

ODPS workers were either sworn law enforcement officers who worked for law enforcement entities during the day, or unsworn workers with no background in law enforcement. All workers had the same duties, but sworn officers earned a higher hourly rate. Duties included “sitting in a car with the lights flashing or directing traffic around a construction zone.” They were free to accept or reject assignments, but would be punished by withholding future assignments if they did so. When they accepted an assignment, ODPS instructed the workers where to report, when to show up, and who to report to upon arrival. ODPS provided some equipment, but workers did have to use some of their own equipment. Workers followed customer instructions while on assignment, and only occasionally received supervision from ODPS. ODPS paid workers for their hours upon submission of an invoice. Workers did not have specialized skills, as sworn officers and unsworn workers had the same duties.