My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: New York.
I recently launched an event planning firm as sole prop. My job is to coordinate free food sample events at super market. Basically, I get orders from food company/mart, recruit people who will give out free samples at the market. I handle scheudling and provide equipments needed to cook. I get paid from food company, remit the agreed pay to the demonstrator and retain the rest as my service fee.
Events are hosted during weekend. Demonstrators are mostly females over 40 (some college students) and have other part/full time job during the week. Some demonstrators stick around while others work as short as 1 weekend. Demonstrators decide whether to work or not, when to work, etc. I coordinate b/w food company's and their schedules. There are no written contracts between food company and mine, mine and demonstrators.
My question is, who is the employer of the demonstrators? Me or the food company? Or are they considered independent contractors?

