IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ) AND INDUSTRIES OF THE ) STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 91610-1 )
Respondent, ) ENBANC )
v. ) Filed MAY 1 9 20~6 )
LYONS ENTERPRISES, INC. ) d/b/a JAN-PRO CLEANING ) SYSTEMS, )
)
Petitioner. )
-------------- )
FAIRHURST, J.-The Industrial Insurance Act (IIA), Title 51 RCW, requires employers to report and pay workers' compensation premiums for all covered workers, including independent contractors, provided the principal-independent contractor relationship meets certain criteria. Lyons Enterprises Inc. is a regional franchisor of an international janitorial franchise operating in western Washington. The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) determined that some of Lyons' franchisees, those that did not actually employ subordinates, met the IIA's definition of"worker" and assessed workers' compensation premiums against Lyons for those
Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 franchisees. The parties have now appealed the initial agency audit through four different administrative and judicial bodies that have reached varying results as to whether Lyons' franchisees are covered workers. As part of these determinations, each adjudicative body that ruled that Lyons' franchisees were workers has also considered whether the franchisees are exempt from coverage under this court's decision in White v. Department ofLabor & Industries, 48 Wn.2d 470, 294 P.2d 650 (1956) or under RCW 51.08.195. Again, the answer to the exemption question has changed at nearly every level of review.
Most recently, Division Two of the Court of Appeals agreed with the agency audit that those franchisees who did not actually employ subordinates were workers covered by the IIA and that the franchisees were not exempt from IIA coverage under White or RCW 51.08.195. Dep't ofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., 186 Wn. App. 518,543,347 P.3d464, review granted, 183 Wn.2d 1017,355 P.3d 1153 (2015). The Court of Appeals, however, remanded the case to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (Board) to make a factual determination as to each of Lyons' franchisees.Id. We granted review of Lyons' appeal.
Whether the franchisor-franchisee relationship is subject to the IIA is a question of first impression for this court. We affirm the Court of Appeals and remand to the Board to determine which of Lyons' franchisees actually employ subordinates.
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Dep 't ofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY A. Factual background Jan-Pro Franchising International, Inc. is a franchise that uses the "Jan-Pro System" to provide janitorial services to thousands of customers throughout 48 states and 9 countries. Clerk's Papers (CP) 1902-03. Lyons is a regional franchisor for Jan- Pro International that operates in western Washington.
A franchisor generally provides a licensed privilege to the franchisee to operate the franchise business. A franchisee becomes part of the Jan-Pro System by entering a franchise agreement with Lyons. Under Lyons' franchise agreement, the franchisee pays a franchise fee, a royalty for the use of the Jan-Pro name and methods, and management fees for Lyons' business support. On each cleaning contract, franchisees must pay Lyons a 10 percent royalty fee and a 5 percent management fee. Lyons remits 3 percent of the gross billing amount to Jan-Pro International and remits the remaining amount to the franchisee. In return for the payments, franchisees are permitted to use the Jan-Pro brand and trademarks in its business and are instructed on Jan-Pro's proprietary cleaning methods.
All Lyons' franchisees are independent businesses who carry their own business licenses. The franchise agreement does not explicitly require franchisees to perform any cleaning themselves, and franchisees are required to pay IIA premiums for any employees they decide to hire. The franchise agreement permits franchisees
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 to hire and fire their own subordinates without Lyons' review. Any subordinates must be "qualified and competent," and franchisees are responsible for training the subordinates. CP at 328.
Lyons enters into cleaning contracts with customers and offers the customers'
accounts to one of its franchisees. If a franchisee accepts a cleaning contract from Lyons, the franchisee performs the commercial cleaning services directly for the customers. Franchisees must supply their own equipment and supplies, but Lyons controls where and from whom the supplies and equipment may be obtained. Even after franchisees accept a cleaning contract, the contract remains Lyons' property. Franchisees may also solicit their own contracts without violating the franchise agreement. In the event that a franchisee successfully obtains new business, the contract becomes Lyons' property.
The franchise agreement precludes franchisees from providing commercial cleaning services outside of Lyons' franchise contracts for the entire 10-year duration of the agreement. The franchise agreement also contains a noncompete agreement that prevents franchisees from engaging in commercial cleaning services of any kind for one year following the conclusion of the franchise agreement.
Lyons retains the right to remove a franchisee from a cleaning contract with or without cause, and may terminate franchise agreements for a number of reasons, including tarnishing the Jan-Pro reputation. If a franchise is terminated, Lyons
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Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 retains the right to purchase all of the franchisee's assets related to the commercial cleaning industry, including items not bearing the Jan-Pro trademark. Lyons must also approve any transfer or sale of the franchise as well as any transfer of interest in the franchise. B. Procedural history This case involves a series of administrative and court proceedings dating back to 2010 that all address whether Lyons' franchisees are subject to the IIA.
In 2010, L&I completed an audit of Lyons and determined that all of Lyons'
franchisees, except the 18 who employed subordinates, were covered "workers" under RCW 51.08.180. The audit also found that Lyons substantially controlled its franchisees under RCW 51.08.195(1), and therefore did not meet that provision's exception to coverage. L&I determined that Lyons controlled the methods used by its franchisees, which was partially indicated by its extensive training, and also that Lyons controlled the franchisees' opportunity for profit, given its right to negotiate and its actual ownership of all of the cleaning contracts. The audit concluded that the indefinite nature of the relationship between Lyons and its franchisees suggested an employer-employee relationship. L&I did not collect the $149,583.94 in past-due premiums that Lyons would otherwise have owed because the audit had an educational focus only. The audit required that Lyons in the future comply with all IIA reporting and premium requirements for its covered workers.
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Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 Lyons sought agency reconsideration of the audit. In the agency reconsideration, L&I concluded that all of Lyons' franchisees, including those 18 who employed subordinates, were covered workers. L&I also found that Lyons' franchisees failed all six requirements of the RCW 51.08.195 coverage exception. Lyons appealed to the Board, where an administrative law judge determined that none of Lyons' franchisees were workers because they met all six requirements of the RCW 51.08.195 exception. The administrative law judge did not examine that conclusion in light of White. L&I appealed that decision to a three-member panel of the Board, which affirmed the initial agency audit. The board panel concluded that consistent with White, all of the franchisees, except the 18 who employed subordinates, were covered workers under the IIA. The board panel also found Lyons' franchisees met four of the six requirements of RCW 51.08.195, but determined the franchisees did not meet subsections ( 1) and (3 ).
Both L&I and Lyons appealed the board panel's decision to the Pierce County Superior Court. The superior court found that all Lyons' franchisees were covered workers and that the fact that some franchisees employed subordinates when they could have performed the work themselves was insufficient to exempt them from coverage under White. The superior court also found that Lyons exercised significant control and direction over its franchisees and, therefore, did not meet the RCW 51.08.195 exception under subsection (1).
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Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 Only Lyons appealed the superior court's decision. Division Two of the Court of Appeals rejected Lyons' argument that the franchise relationship categorically excluded it from IIA coverage. Lyons, 186 Wn. App. at 531-35. The Court of Appeals reasoned that the essence of the work performed by Lyons' franchisees under the franchise agreement was the franchisees' personal labor. Id. The Court of Appeals also ruled that under White, only Lyons' franchisees who employed subordinates were exempt from coverage, and that the covered franchisees did not meet the exception found in RCW 51.08.195. I d. at 53 5. The Court of Appeals found the franchisees did not meet RCW 51.08.195(3), but did not address whether they met subsection (1). Id. at 537. The Court of Appeals remanded the case to the Board in order to resolve factual discrepancies as to which franchisees actually employed subordinates. Id. at 538.
Lyons filed a petition for review, which we granted. Lyons Enters., 183 Wn.2d 1017.
II. ISSUES
A. Can franchises be subject to the IIA?
B. Are Lyons' franchisees who do not hire subordinates "workers"
pursuant to the IIA?
C. If Lyons' franchisees are "workers," are they nevertheless exempt from coverage under White or RCW 51.08.195?
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 III. ANALYSIS
The primary issue in this appeal is whether Lyons' franchisees who did not employ subordinates are "workers" as that term is defined under RCW 51 .08.180 of the IIA. To properly address this issue, we first evaluate whether the IIA is applicable to franchises. This is necessary both because the IIA's passage predated the expansion of the franchise business model and because franchises are already subject to a strict regulatory scheme under the Franchise Investment Protection Act (FIP A), chapter 19.100 RCW. Because we find the IIA is applicable to franchises, we next address whether Lyons' franchisees meet the definition of "worker" and whether they may be subject to exception under our holding in White or under RCW 51.08.195. 1 In reviewing a board decision under the IIA, the superior court considers the issues de novo, relying on the certified board record. Watson v. Dep 't of Labor & Indus., 133 Wn. App. 903, 909, 138 P.3d 177 (2006). The superior court's ruling is subject to the ordinary civil appeal rules. See RCW 51.52.140; Ramo v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 92 Wn. App. 348, 353, 962 P.2d 844 (1998).
1 Whether the franchisees in the current case were actually employees is not at issue in this case and not relevant because certain independent contractors can be "workers." Based on the record, none of the franchisees consented to an employment relationship. An employment relationship requires both a right of control and the employee's consent to the employment relationship. See Judy v. Hanford Envtl. Health Found., 106 Wn. App. 26, 35,22 P.3d 810 (2001).
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1
A. Franchises can be subject to the IIA because the purposes underlying the IIA and FIP A support applying the IIA to franchises
Like many other issues surrounding FIP A, nothing in chapter 19.100 RCW addresses the applicability of the IIA to franchise relationships. See Douglas C. Berry et al., State Regulation ofFranchising: The Washington Experience Revisited, 32 SEATTLE U. L. REv. 811, 812 (2009) (describing the "thundering silence that has persisted on a wide variety of FIP A issues"). Still, Lyons maintains FIP A should provide exclusive coverage over FIP A regulated franchises. We disagree. The purposes of both FIP A and the IIA confirm that the IIA should apply to franchises.
1. FIPA When the legislature enacted FIPA, it created a comprehensive scheme for regulating franchising in Washington, and did so with the aim of protecting franchisees. See E. Wind Express, Inc. v. Airborne Freight Corp., 95 Wn. App. 98, 102, 974 P.2d 369 (1999) ("Our Legislature enacted ... FIPA ... to curb franchisor sales abuses and unfair competitive practices." (citing Morris v. Int 'l Yogurt, 107 Wn.2d 314, 317-18, 729 P.2d 33 (1986))); see also Berry, supra, at 817. "The provisions of FIP A reflect a fundamental policy of this state to protect its citizens from oppressive practices historically associated with the sale of franchises." Rutter v. BX of Tri-Cities, Inc., 60 Wn. App. 743, 748, 806 P.2d 1266 (1991). As we explained shortly after the implementation ofFIPA:
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Dep'tofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1
"The franchisor normally occupies an overwhelmingly stronger bargaining position and drafts the franchise agreement so as to maximize his power to control the franchisee. Franchisors have used this power to terminate franchises arbitrarily, to coerce franchisees under threat of termination, and to force franchisees to purchase supplies from the franchisor or approved suppliers at unreasonable prices, to carry excessive inventories, to operate long, unprofitable hours, and to employ other unprofitable practices."
Coast to Coast Stores, Inc. v. Gruschus, 100 Wn.2d 147, 150, 667 P.2d 619 (1983) (quoting Donald S. Chisum, State Regulation of Franchising: The Washington Experience, 48 WASI-L L. REV. 291,297-98 (1973)). We have previously recognized that it was in response to these concerns that the legislature included in FIP A a franchisee "bill of rights." See Corp v. Atl.-Richjield Co., 122 Wn.2d 574, 580, 860 P.2d 1015 (1993) (citing RCW 19.100.180; Coast to Coast, 100 Wn.2d at 150). Although subsequent commentary has questioned the validity of these fears, especially in light of the sophisticated franchisees operating today, see Berry, supra, at 873, the legislature enacted FIP A with the purpose of protecting franchisees, and it is through that lens that we continue to view its provisions.
2. IIA We turn now to the IIA and its purpose, as intended by the legislature, to determine whether the IIA should be interpreted to apply to franchise relationships.
The legislature created the workers' compensation system in 1911 through the passage of the IIA. LAWS OF 1911, ch. 74; Walston v. Boeing Co., 181 Wn.2d 391, 396, 334 P.3d 519 (2014) (citing Birklid v. Boeing Co., 127 Wn.2d 853, 859, 904
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 P.2d 278 (1995)). The IIA was a '"grand compromise'" that granted immunity to employers from civil suits initiated by their workers and provided workers with "'a swift, no-fault compensation system for injuries on the job."' Walston, 181 Wn.2d at 396 (quoting Birklid, 127 Wn.2d at 859).
Although the initial passage applied only to extrahazardous work, "in 1971 the legislature amended the IIA to encompass 'all employments . . . within the legislative jurisdiction of the state."' Doty v. Town ofSouth Prairie, 155 Wn.2d 527, 531, 120 P.3d 941 (2005) (emphasis added) (alteration in original) (quoting LAWS OF 1971, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 289, §§ 1-2)). "The IIA is broad in scope and contains a mandate of liberal construction 'for the purpose of reducing to a minimum the suffering and economic loss arising from injuries and/or death occurring in the course of employment."' I d. (quoting RCW 51.12.01 0). The liberal construction of the IIA necessitates that all doubts be resolved in favor of coverage. Id. at 532. Further, the "guiding principle" when interpreting provisions of the IIA is that it is a remedial statute that is "to be liberally construed in order to achieve its purpose of providing compensation to all covered employees injured in their employment, with doubts resolved in favor of the worker." Dennis v. Dep 't of Labor & Indus., 109 Wn.2d 467,470,745 P.2d 1295 (1987) (citing RCW 51.12.010; Sacred Heart Med. Ctr. v. Carrado, 92 Wn.2d 631,635,600 P.2d 1015 (1979); Lightle v. Dep 't ofLabor & Indus., 68 Wn.2d 507, 510, 413 P.2d 814 (1966); Wilber v. Dep't of Labor &
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Dep'tofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 Indus., 61 Wn.2d 439, 446, 378 P.2d 684 (1963); State ex rel. Crabb v. Olinger, 196 Wash. 308,311,82 P.2d 865 (1938); Gaines v. Dep 't ofLabor & Indus., 1 Wn. App. 547, 552, 463 P.2d 269 (1969)).
In keeping with the remedial nature of the IIA and the requirements that it be construed liberally to cover all employment within the jurisdiction of the state, as well as FIPA's aim of protecting franchisees, we hold that the IIA is applicable to franchises provided the franchisees meet the IIA's definition of a covered "worker." 2
B. Lyons' franchisees who do not hire subordinates meet the IIA's definition of "worker"
A finding that Lyons' franchisees are "workers" is a prerequisite to the
imposition of IIA premiums. See RCW 51.16.060. Because we construe the IIA to cover franchises, we next resolve whether Lyons' franchisees meet the IIA's definition of "worker." We hold that the essence of Lyons' franchise agreement is the franchisees' personal labor and the franchisees are therefore "workers" as that term is defined in RCW 51.08.180.
The IIA defines "worker" as
every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of an employer under this title, whether by way of manual labor or otherwise in the course of his or her employment; also every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of or who is working under an independent contract, the essence of which is his or her personal labor
2 Moreover, there is no support in either the IIA or FIPA for Lyons' argument that the IIA is inapplicable because franchises are governed solely by FIP A. As explained above, FIPA was enacted with the purpose of protecting the franchisee and the IIA' s extension to FIPA regulated franchises would achieve this objective when the franchisee can also be classified as a "worker."
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1
for an employer under this title, whether by way of manual labor or otherwise, in the course of his or her employment.
RCW 51.08.180 (emphasis added). Lyons does not dispute that its franchisees are independent contractors. To be sure, the franchise agreement between Lyons and its franchisees describes the franchisees as independent contractors. Because the IIA includes independent contractors within its definition of "worker," the only remaining inquiry is whether the essence of the independent contract between Lyons and its franchisees is the franchisees' personal labor.
For our purposes, the question then becomes how to discern the "essence" of a contract that will bring certain independent contractors within the gambit of the IIA. To establish whether the essence of a contract is personal labor, "we look to the contract, the work to be done, the situation of the parties, and other attendant circumstances." Lloyd's of Yakima Floor Ctr. v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 33 Wn. App. 745, 749, 662 P.2d 391 (1982) (citing Cook v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 46 Wn.2d 475, 476, 282 P.2d 265 (1955)). "Essence," as we have previously defined it, refers to "the 'gist or substance, the vital sine qua non, the very heart and soul"' of the contract between the independent contractor and the employer. Id. at 751 (quoting Haller v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 13 Wn.2d 164, 168, 124 P.2d 559 (1942)). When considering whether a contract's essence is personal labor, "[w]e focus on the realities of the situation rather than the technical requirements of the test." B&R Sales, Inc. v. Dep't ofLabor & Indus., 186 Wn. App. 367,377,344 P.3d
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1
I
741 (2015) (citing Dana's Housekeeping, Inc. v. Dep 't of Labor & Indus., 76 Wn. App. 600, 608, 886 P.2d 1147 (1995)). However, in White we held personal labor is not the essence of a contract when an independent contractor
(a) . . . must of necessity own or supply machinery or equipment (as distinguished from the usual hand tools) to perform the contract, or (b)
... obviously could not perform the contract without assistance, or (c)
... of necessity or choice employs others to do all or part of the work he has contracted to perform.
48 Wn.2d at 474.
Lyons contends the essence of the relationship between it and its franchisees is the bilateral contract between two independent businesses, not the franchisees' personal labor. Although this is our first time to address such an argument in the franchise context, the Court of Appeals considered similar arguments in prior cases when the parties were in a lessee-lessor relationship and in a business referral relationship.
In Department ofLabor & Industries v. Tacoma Yellow Cab Co., 31 Wn. App.
117, 118, 639 P .2d 843 (1982), individuals leased taxicabs from employers on a day- to-day basis. Despite the fact that the individuals and the taxicab companies used the lease agreement terminology to describe their business arrangement, L&I assessed IIA premiums against the taxicab companies for the individuals leasing taxicabs. I d. Division Two of the Court of Appeals acknowledged that the taxicab drivers worked under and pursuant to an independent contract with the taxicab companies; thus, like
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Dep'tofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 the present case, the dispositive determination for coverage was the essence of the independent contracts. Id. at 123. Under the independent contracts, the drivers were free to operate the taxicabs in any legally permissible fashion, provided the taxicab "'not be operated by any person except by the Lessee or his regular employees. And such employees shall be duly qualified and licensed to drive and over the age of 25 years."' Id. (quoting lease). Use of the taxicabs was based on a flat fee and mileage agreement that the companies asserted provided no basis for an employer-employee relationship that would necessitate paying IIA premiums. Id. at 123-24. The Court of Appeals reasoned that the taxicab companies' arguments ignored the realities of the relationship between the parties. I d. at 124. The realities of the taxicab drivers' situation was "simply that the essence of the independent lease contract [was] to provide a method to place taxis and drivers on the city streets of Tacoma to carry passengers at rates which are established by local ordinances." Id. The Court of Appeals therefore found that the function of the lease drivers was no different from the actual employees of the taxicab companies and that the drivers "contribute[ d] nothing to the contract except their personal labor." Id. As such, even though neither the individuals nor the taxicab companies intended to create an independent contractor relationship necessitating the payment of workers' compensation premiums, L&I's assessment of premiums against the taxicab companies was proper based on the realities of the relationship.
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Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 In Dana's, 76 Wn. App. 600, Division One of the Court of Appeals came to a similar conclusion. Dana's was a business that contracted with housecleaners to clean private homes. Id. at 602. Dana's issued all job assignments and made all arrangements for the housecleaning except transportation. I d. Dana's considered the homeowners its own clients, and the housecleaners agreed not to solicit any of the homeowners for 90 days following termination of their relationship with Dana's. Id. at 603. All of the housecleaners signed contracts with Dana's designating themselves as independent contractors. Id. at 602.
Despite the independent contractor designation, L&I assessed IIA premiums against Dana's for all of its housecleaners. Id. On appeal, the Court of Appeals stated that in assessing whether the housecleaners were workers, it had to decide (1) whether the housecleaners were working under an independent contract, (2) whether the essence of the contract was the housecleaners' personal labor, and (3) whether the personal labor was for Dana's. Id. at 607.
Dana's did not dispute that the housecleaners were working under an independent contract. However, Dana's attempted to argue that the essence of its relationship with the housecleaners was not personal labor but rather "'an agreement to accept referrals and share a fee,"' and that any personal labor was for the benefit of the homeowners, not Dana's. Id. Division One disagreed in both regards. The court explained that the "essence" is determined by the work performed under the
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Dep 't ofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 independent contract, not the parties' characterization of their relationship, and that the essence inquiry focuses on the realities of the situation, not technical requirements. Id. at 607-08. Considering that the housecleaners had no specialized equipment, worked without assistance, and were precluded from hiring others, the "essence" of the independent contract was the housecleaners' personal labor, not solicitation of housecleaning duties from Dana's. Id. at 608. Next, although Dana's attempted to argue that the housecleaners' labor was for the homeowners, not Dana's, the court concluded that personal labor for an employer includes both direct labor and labor for an employer's benefit. !d. (citing Cascade Nursing Servs., Ltd. v. Emp't Sec. Dep't, 71 Wn. App. 23, 33, 856 P.2d 421 (1993)). The realities of the situation, as Division One viewed them, demonstrated that the housecleaners' labor was beneficial to Dana's, as Dana's received up to 48 percent of the cleaning fees. Id. at 608-09. The fact that homeowners received the cleaning benefit was not enough to exclude the housecleaners from IIA coverage. I d. at 608 (citing Lloyd's, 33 Wn. App. at 752).
Here, Lyons' argument similarly ignores the reality of the relationship it shares with its franchisees and instead relies on its characterization of the relationship. The courts in both Dana's and Tacoma Yellow Cab rejected this characterization argument. We now do the same.
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Dep 't ofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 While Lyons' franchisees receive corollary benefits from the franchise relationship, the essence of the contracts between Lyons and its franchisees is the labor required to clean its customers' buildings. Lyons nevertheless maintains that the customers receive the personal labor of the franchisees. However, as the Dana's court concluded, labor for an employer can include both direct labor and labor for an employer's benefit. Lyons receives 15 percent of every cleaning contract. Lyons also exercises significant control over both the methods utilized by franchisees and the cleaning contracts themselves since Lyons retains ownership over every contract. Like Dana's, the evidence in the present case indicates that the relationship remains beneficial to Lyons, and the cleaning benefits received by Lyons' customers are not enough to exclude the franchisees from IIA coverage. We therefore find that Lyons' franchisees are "workers" under the IIA.
C. Lyons' franchisees are not exempt under White or RCW 51.08.195 Although we conclude Lyons' franchisees are "workers," they may nevertheless be excluded from IIA coverage if they meet one of the exceptions announced in White or the six-part exception articulated in RCW 51.08.195.
1. Only Lyons' franchisees who actually employ subordinates are exempted from IIA coverage under White
As noted above, in White we set forth three situations in which the essence of a contract is not personal labor: (1) when the independent contractor must of necessity own or supply machinery to perform the contract, or (2) the independent
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 contractor obviously could not perform the contract without assistance, or (3) the independent contractor of necessity or choice employs others to do all or part of the work he has been contracted to perform. 48 Wn.2d at 474.
Lyons does not assert that its franchisees meet either the first or second White exclusions. Indeed, the factual findings of the Board evidence that Lyons' contract completion requires neither specialized tools nor assistance from franchisee subordinates. Still, Lyons maintains that because the franchise agreement contemplates that franchisees may hire subordinates, it meets White's third prong and is therefore outside of the IIA's definition of"worker." In Lyons' view, the mere contemplation that another may perform the labor is sufficient to make the labor nonpersonal. We disagree.
The fact that a franchisee could hire a subordinate is insufficient to exempt an employer from IIA coverage. As the Court of Appeals explained, this court has already rejected such an argument. Lyons, 186 Wn. App. at 533. In White, we considered two of our prior holdings in which we held that labor that may be done by another is not "personal" as the IIA intended. 48 Wn.2d at 4 72-73 (discussing Crall v. Dep 't ofLabor & Indus., 45 Wn.2d 497, 275 P.2d 903 (1954), overruled by White, 48 Wn.2d470, and Cookv. Dep'tofLabor & Indus., 46 Wn.2d 475,282 P.2d 265, 266 (1955), overruled by White, 48 Wn.2d 470). There, we overruled Crall and Cook, finding that their language was too broad and that when passing the IIA, the
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Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 legislature had something more in mind than "protection of independent contractors in those extremely rare cases in which the party for whom the work is done requires the personal services of the independent contractor and is unwilling that any part of the work be done by someone else." Id. at 474. Our reasoning in White was based on the notion that actual employment of another must occur to negate a finding that the independent contractor is a worker. The hypothetical ability to hire subordinates has never been sufficient to preclude coverage under the IIA and is likewise inadequate here.
We therefore reject Lyons' argument and hold that only those franchisees of Lyons who actually employ subordinates are exempt from IIA coverage. 3 2. Lyons 'franchisees do not meet the RCW 51.08.195 exception The IIA is construed broadly in favor of coverage in order to achieve its objective of protecting all workers. But, even an individual who meets RCW 51.08.180' s definition of "worker" will be excluded from IIA coverage if she meets all six of the requirements articulated in RCW 51.08.195. 4 Malang v. Dep 't ofLabor & Indus., 139 Wn. App. 677, 689, 162 P.3d 450 (2007).
The parties do not appear to dispute that the Lyons' franchisees meet subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6) ofRCW 51.08.195. Instead, Lyons andL&I disagree
3 As the Court of Appeals explained, the factual record remains unclear as to which of Lyons' franchisees actually employ subordinates. This is an issue properly addressed on remand.
4 RCW 51.08.195 provides:
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 as to the applicability of subsections (1) and (3). Although Lyons maintains RCW 51.08.195 exempts its franchisees from IIA coverage, we hold its franchisees do not meet RCW 51.08.195(3). Failure to meet any subsection precludes exception. Id.
Because the Court of Appeals decided this issue on RCW 51.08.195(3), we first address that subsection. In doing so, we conclude Lyons has not shown that its
As an exception to the definition of "employer" under RCW 51.08.070 and the definition of"worker" under RCW 51.08.180, services performed by an individual for remuneration shall not constitute employment subject to this title if it is shown that:
(1) The individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of the service, both under the contract of service and in fact; and (2) The service is either outside the usual course of business for which the service is performed, or the service is performed outside all of the places of business of the enterprise for which the service is performed, or the individual is responsible, both under the contract and in fact, for the costs of the principal place of business from which the service is performed; and (3) The individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business, of the same nature as that involved in the contract of service, or the individual has a principal place of business for the business the individual is conducting that is eligible for a business deduction for federal income tax purposes; and (4) On the effective date of the contract of service, the individual is responsible for filing at the next applicable filing period, both under the contract of service and in fact, a schedule of expenses with the internal revenue service for the type of business the individual is conducting; and (5) On the effective date of the contract of service, or within a reasonable period after the effective date of the contract, the individual has established an account with the department of revenue, and other state agencies as required by the particular case, for the business the individual is conducting for the payment of all state taxes normally paid by employers and businesses and has registered for and received a unified business identifier number from the state of Washington; and (6) On the effective date of the contract of service, the individual is maintaining a separate set of books or records that reflect all items of income and expenses of the business which the individual is conducting.
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Dep'tofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 franchisees' businesses are customarily engaged in an independently established business as RCW 51.08.195(3) requires.
In order to satisfy RCW 51.08.195(3), an individual must be
customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business, of the same nature as that involved in the contract of service, or the individual has a principal place of business for the business the individual is conducting that is eligible for a business deduction for federal income tax purposes.
Lyons does not argue that its franchisees have independent places of business, so we need decide only whether the franchisees are customarily engaged in an independently established business. The Court of Appeals found that Lyons' franchisees were not exempt because their businesses were "intimately tied to their relationship with Lyons." Lyons, 186 Wn. App. at 537. The Court of Appeals did not err in making that determination.
A business is "'independently established"' if the individual customarily engages in it and if it is an enterprise created and existing separate and apart from the relationship with a particular employer, 'such that the enterprise will survive the termination of that relationship. In re All-State Constr. Co., 70 Wn.2d 657, 666, 425 P.2d 16 (1967).
Most of Lyons' franchisees were not in the commercial cleaning business prior to the purchase of their franchise, nor had they previously owned businesses. The franchisees rely on Lyons to solicit business and to complete billing, and Lyons
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Dep'tofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1 owns all of the cleaning contracts. Though we have previously noted that the franchise is conceptually distinct from the franchisee's business, see Coast to Coast, 100 Wn.2d at 152, the franchisees' businesses in this case rely on Lyons for creation and operation of the franchise and cease to have any legitimate value at the close of the franchise agreement. Should a franchise be terminated early, franchisees are precluded from operating their businesses for the entire duration of the 10-year franchise agreement and for a 1-year period after the end of the franchise agreement pursuant to the mandatory noncompete clause. This noncompete clause is the antithesis of independence. As such, we conclude Lyons' franchisees' businesses do not exist separate and apart from the relationship with Lyons and therefore are not exempt under RCW 51.08.195(3). Because Lyons' franchisees do not meet subsection (3) ofRCW 51.08.195, we need not address the remaining provisions. See Malang, 139 Wn. App. at 689. 5
5 Lyons also claims that its franchisees are not workers because the IIA excludes sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers. Lyons first raised this argument at the Court of Appeals to assert that treating franchisees as independent business owners was consistent with the legislature's policy of excluding certain business owners from the IIA. This argument is not properly before us. B&R, 186 Wn. App. at 381 (arguments not raised before the Board are waived on appeal).
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Dep 't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc., No. 91610-1
IV. CONCLUSION
We hold that Lyons' franchisees who do not employ subordinates are
"workers" under the IIA. We remand to the Board to factually determine which franchisees employ, and which do not employ, subordinates to accurately assess workers' compensation premiums against Lyons.
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Dep't ofLabor & Indus. v. Lyons Enter., Inc., No. 91610-1
WE CONCUR: