Love is Blind... But Your Hiring Practices Shouldn’t Be
Written by Tracy Judge, CEO & Founder of Soundings
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In the reality TV world, drama is part of the game. But for businesses, particularly in the business events industry, drama in the form of hiring mistakes can have real-world consequences.
The recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case involving Love is Blind is a stark reminder of the risks associated with misclassification, lack of worker protections, and poorly defined roles.
For years, companies in the business events industry have relied heavily on 1099 contractors to staff their teams. It’s a common practice, but it’s not always a compliant one. Most businesses, including staffing companies, either don’t fully understand the legal nuances of worker classification or haven’t figured out how to staff talent in a way that’s both flexible and lawful.
The Love is Blind labor dispute serves as a cautionary tale for companies across industries. Misclassification, inadequate worker protections, and unclear expectations can lead to significant legal and financial risks. For the business events industry, where staffing needs often fluctuate, the stakes are even higher.
Hiring Practices in Business Events
In an industry built on flexibility and speed, hiring talent as 1099 contractors is a widespread practice. However, when companies control how, when, and where the work is performed, these workers may legally qualify as W2 employees. Misclassification isn’t just a legal risk—it’s a financial one that can lead to back pay liabilities, fines, and reputational damage.
The issue isn’t that companies are acting maliciously. It’s that they lack the resources or expertise to navigate the complexities of compliance while maintaining the flexibility that project-based work demands.
There’s no challenge we can’t solve in the business events industry—provided we acknowledge the problem exists. By taking a closer look at where others have gone wrong, we can better understand the risks and implement solutions that protect both companies and workers.
Love is Blind Hiring Mistakes in the Business Events Industry—and How to Avoid Them
Misclassifying Workers
Contestants on Love is Blind were classified as “participants” instead of employees, depriving them of critical protections. Misclassification can lead to significant liabilities for businesses.
Industry Scenario: In the events industry, hiring freelance event planners or on-site coordinators but controlling their schedules, providing tools, and expecting exclusivity may require them to be classified as employees. Misclassifying them can result in fines, legal disputes, and reputational damage.
Our Solution: Soundings ensures every hire is accurately classified to protect your business from legal and financial risks. Our compliance-first approach assesses each role’s scope, level of control, and expectations to determine the correct classification, whether W2 or 1099. We handle onboarding, documentation, and regulatory updates, giving you the flexibility to scale your team without the risk of misclassification. With Soundings, you stay compliant while avoiding fines, disputes, and reputational damage.
Failing to Properly Define Work Expectations
Contestants on Love is Blind faced unclear roles and expectations, creating unnecessary disputes. In the business events industry, a lack of clarity about responsibilities can lead to confusion and dissatisfaction.
Industry Scenario: Hiring a freelance coordinator but expecting them to handle event budgets or team management—tasks typically assigned to a manager—without proper pay or classification can lead to legal and morale issues.
Our Solution: We create tailored roles for each Soundings client using our proprietary approach to ensure clear, detailed job descriptions, saving our customers valuable time. Properly defining responsibilities prevents confusion, legal risks, and dissatisfaction. By aligning expectations with role-specific tasks and compensation, we help businesses avoid disputes, foster a productive work environment, and streamline their hiring process.
Inadequate Worker Protections
Long hours and unsafe working conditions plagued the Love is Blind contestants, exposing a lack of compliance with basic labor laws. These same issues can arise in the fast-paced events world if proper safeguards aren’t in place.
Industry Scenario: Imagine event production staff working 16-hour shifts during a multi-day conference without breaks. This not only violates labor laws but also leads to burnout and diminished productivity.
Our Solution: At Soundings, we take a proactive approach to worker protection by thoroughly scoping projects to account for potential overtime and ensure efficient staffing. We offer our clients clear guidance on compliance policies, such as break periods and maximum shift lengths, to minimize risk and support smooth event execution. With our support, you can focus on delivering exceptional events while we help you navigate the complexities of workforce compliance and optimize team performance.
Agile Staffing: A Compliant and Impactful Solution
The Love is Blind case underscores the urgent need for hiring practices that safeguard both businesses and workers. In the business events industry, adopting compliant agile staffing strategies is essential to achieving the balance between flexibility and ethical, legally sound practices.
At Soundings, we’ve developed a proven model that tackles these challenges head-on, offering businesses the flexibility they need while ensuring compliance and fostering financial stability for both companies and workers. It’s a win-win for everyone.
By addressing these challenges proactively, we can pave the way for a more sustainable, compliant, and resilient future in the business events industry.
Don’t let your hiring practices become your company’s blind spot.
Click below to learn more about our innovative talent strategy and schedule a discovery call with our team.