Zak v. Dep't of Workforce Servs. & Workforce Appeals Bd.
Zak v. Dep't of Workforce Servs. & Workforce Appeals Bd.
Opinion
¶1 While many hands make light work, they may also accrue liability for contributions to the state's unemployment compensation fund. The Department of Workforce Services (Department) determined that Pany Zak's day spa workers were employees and not independent contractors. Because the workers were employees, the Department concluded that their wages were subject to state unemployment compensation fund contributions and the Workforce Appeals Board (Board) affirmed. Zak petitions for judicial review. We decline to disturb the Board's decision.
¶2 Zak operated a by-appointment-only day spa business out of her home and offered a variety of spa-related services to customers. While Zak provided most of the services herself, she hired other workers and contacted them when more hands were needed. When Zak contacted the workers with an opportunity to perform services in her spa, the workers were free to reject the offer. But if the workers accepted, Zak expected them to render their services at her place of business and she would pay the workers a percentage of the sale or a commission.
¶3 Under this arrangement, the customers belonged to Zak and the workers were directed not to hand out their own business cards to the customers. Zak set the price of services, set the rate or amount of commissions to workers, collected payment from customers, and paid the workers. When customers called the day spa, Zak or her boyfriend who lived with her answered the call and scheduled the appointment. If a customer failed to show up for an appointment with a worker or was dissatisfied with the services provided by a worker, Zak did not pay that worker.
¶4 When providing a service, workers paid no "booth" fees and otherwise did not rent space in Zak's day spa. Rather, Zak provided a room and massage table to the workers at no cost, and made available, at a cost to the workers, some spa-related products. If a customer paid by credit card, Zak charged the workers a credit card processing fee.
¶5 Zak generally found workers by placing classified advertisements and soliciting resumes. She then had the workers sign an agreement in which they agreed to be "classified as Contract Labor." The agreement further stated that Zak's day spa "is not considered [the worker's] employer and will not be held responsible for any tax payments" related to the workers' employment. Zak issued the workers a 1099-MISC 1 form but did not know what types of tax forms the workers filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Zak offered the workers no instruction or training on how to perform services and did not ask them to show her their own business licenses. Indeed, Zak allowed the workers to provide services in their own unique styles.
¶6 In 2016, the Department commenced an audit to determine whether Zak's workers should be classified as independent contractors or as Zak's employees. After an investigation, the auditor determined that Zak's workers were employees and, consequently, that the workers' wages were subject to state unemployment compensation fund contributions. Zak appealed the audit to the Department. Considering Zak's appeal, a hearing officer within the Department reviewed documents from the original investigation and consulted with Zak. The hearing officer weighed the circumstances surrounding Zak's relationship with the day spa workers against several factors used to aid in the determination of a worker's independent contractor status. The officer affirmed the auditor's determination that Zak's spa workers were employees and not independent contractors.
¶7 Zak appealed the Department's decision to an administrative law judge (the ALJ). The ALJ affirmed the Department's decision, determining that Zak was an employer and that Zak's day spa workers were employees. As a result, the ALJ determined that Zak's business was subject to unemployment contributions. The ALJ observed that Zak had the burden to establish that the workers were "independently established in their own trade, occupation, profession, or business providing similar services as those provided to [Zak] at the same time the services were provided to [Zak]."
See
Aura Spa & Boutique v. Department of Workforce Services
,
¶8 Zak then appealed the ALJ's decision to the Board. The Board adopted in full the factual findings of the ALJ and affirmed the ALJ's reasoning and conclusions of law. Zak seeks review of that decision in this court. Zak primarily argues that the Board erred when it concluded that the day spa workers were employees and not independent contractors with independently established businesses. 2
¶9 The Employment Security Act generally makes "[s]ervices performed by an individual for wages or under any contract of hire" subject to contributions to the state unemployment compensation fund. Utah Code Ann. § 35A-4-204(3). Zak does not dispute that her relationship with the spa workers included payment of wages under a contract for hire. Consequently, the services of the workers are subject to the Employment Security Act "unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the [Unemployment Insurance Division] that" an exception for independent contractors applies.
See
¶10 "The determination whether a [worker] is an independent contractor involves a fact-sensitive inquiry into the unique facts of a particular employment relationship."
Evolocity
,
¶11 The Board considered seven factors to aid in its determination that the workers were independent contractors. See Utah Admin. Code R944-204-303(1)(b). These factors
require the reviewing entity to examine whether the worker has a separate place of business; has substantially invested in his or her own equipment; has independent clients; can realize a profit or loss; advertises his or her own services; has obtained the required and customary professional licenses; and maintains records that validate business expenses.
Aura
,
¶12 Zak separately addresses each factor in her briefing but does not challenge any of the record evidence. Instead, she asks us to consider the same evidence presented in the administrative proceedings and reach a different conclusion-that the workers were more like independent contractors.
However, "[w]e do not reweigh the evidence or substitute our decision for that of the Department but instead will uphold its determinations if they are supported by the record evidence."
Evolocity
,
¶13 With regard to the first factor-the worker's separate place of business-Zak argues that the Board improperly ignored some of her evidence when it labeled that evidence hearsay. In other words, she contends that the Board refused to consider legally competent evidence, an argument that implicates the residuum rule.
See
Aura
,
¶14 " 'Hearsay' is a statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted."
InnoSys, Inc. v. Department of Workforce Services
,
¶15 Zak testified that the workers told her in conversations that they had their own business licenses and places of business. She further testified that some of the workers had other jobs performing spa treatments and she submitted two resumes from workers identifying themselves as "self-employed" and showing that they maintained other employment. None of the workers testified at the administrative hearing and Zak offered no other evidence of the workers' separate businesses. Zak's testimony about what the workers told her and the workers' resumes are hearsay. It constituted statements of others made while not testifying and the statements were offered by Zak to prove the truth of those statements. Zak offered this evidence to establish that the workers had their own business licenses and independent places of business. Because Zak did not assert that an exception applied to this hearsay evidence, the Board correctly concluded that this evidence was hearsay. 3
¶16 The Board considered Zak's testimony as well as the resumes. The ALJ observed that Zak "provided hearsay evidence the workers had their own places of business[,] ... had other clients[, and] ... had business licenses." Likewise, the Board observed that the only evidence supporting the workers maintaining a separate place of business "is hearsay in the form of the workers' resumes and their alleged statements to [Zak]." Because this evidence was hearsay not subject to an exception, standing alone and without corroboration, it was not competent evidence sufficient to support a factual finding contrary to the facts found by the ALJ. The ALJ and the Board thus properly concluded that Zak's testimony and the two resumes could not support a finding that the workers had business licenses or their own places of business.
See
¶17 Zak has not demonstrated that the Board clearly erred in its conclusion that the workers were employees of her day spa. Nor has she established that the Board exceeded the scope of its afforded deference in determining the facts and weighing them in reaching its conclusion. "Further, because independent contractor status requires a showing of both independent establishment and freedom from direct control, the lack of the former obviates the need to discuss the latter."
A 1099-MISC, or miscellaneous income form, is an Internal Revenue Service tax form that reports, among other things, earnings paid to an independent contractor or a person who is self-employed but has performed work for another. See About Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income , IRS, https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-misc [https://perma.cc/TY2T-4437].
We note that Zak asserts that the Board misinterpreted the language of Utah Administrative Code R944-204-303(1)(b) when it considered that provision's enumerated factors used to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor. However, Zak fails to "explain, with reasoned analysis supported by citations to legal authority and the record," why she should prevail on this argument on judicial review.
See
Utah R. App. P. 24(a)(8). She also suggests that the Board's decision is not supported by substantial evidence. In our review of the Board's decision, the Board affirmatively cited substantial and undisputed evidence supporting its weighing of all seven factors. Because neither of these arguments is adequately briefed, we do not consider them further.
See
State v. Thomas
,
Hearsay may be "legally competent evidence, given the multitude of exceptions to the presumptive bar on the admission of hearsay."
Aura Spa & Boutique v. Department of Workforce Services
,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.