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AB-816 • 2026

Employment: employees and independent contractors: merchandisers.

Employment: employees and independent contractors: merchandisers.

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Flora
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Died - Labor and Employment
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

AB-816: New Rules for Merchandisers as Independent Contractors

This law creates a new exception that allows merchandisers in the consumer-packaged goods industry to be classified as independent contractors instead of employees if they meet specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates an exemption from the strict 'ABC' test for merchandisers providing stand-alone in-store inventory and product placement services.
  • Applies this new rule only to workers serving retailers and brands in the consumer-packaged goods industry.
  • Makes nonsubstantive changes to existing rules that exempt business-to-business contracting relationships.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Merchandisers who provide stand-alone inventory or product placement services on behalf of retailers and brands in the consumer-packaged goods industry.
  • Businesses in the consumer-packaged goods industry that hire these merchandisers.
  • The Labor Commissioner, who enforces worker classification laws.

Terms To Know

ABC test
A three-part rule used to decide if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. A worker is considered an employee unless they are free from control, perform work outside the hiring entity's usual business, and are engaged in their own established trade.
Merchandiser
A person who provides stand-alone in-store inventory or product placement labor for retailers and brands.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text states the exemption applies 'as specified' but does not list every specific condition required to qualify.
  • The effective date of this law is not provided in the source material.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Died - Labor and Employment

Official Summary Text

Employment: employees and independent contractors: merchandisers.