Question #7: Are You A Sub-contractor Or An Employee Of The Roofing Company You Work For?
First, here’s why this question is important.
Companies that don’t have any employees are not currently required by Pikes Peak Regional Building Department to have Workmen’s Comp insurance. As we discussed in a previous article, hiring contractors who aren’t covered by Workmen’s Comp insurance could have devastating consequences for you as a homeowner.
If the contractor doesn’t have workmen’s comp insurance and someone on the crew gets injured, you, as the homeowner, may be liable for any medical costs incurred, especially if a personal injury lawyer gets involved.
So if the salesman, inspector, or project manager of the roofing company is not an employee, he may be hired as a “subcontractor” in order for the roofing company to avoid having to pay for Workmen’s Comp insurance for him. It’s a loop-hole that many roofers use to save themselves this cost.
Secondly, there are many regulations which dictate and define who is a subcontractor and who is an employee. Most roofing salesmen/inspectors/project managers do not, qualify as sub-contractors, which means that the roofing company is skirting around state and federal laws. Do you want to hire a roofing contractor who is putting you at risk and engaging in illegal activity in order to earn your business?