Most small businesses depend on reliable staff, but in an escape room business game masters can often make or break a player’s experience! As such, escape room owners want to treat their staff well….and that starts with understanding a little bit about employment law.This is easier said than done given the plethora of federal and state employment laws in the USA.

This blog article is no substitute for formal legal advice. However, below is a brief discussion of some common employment law questions, so that you can at least start a discussion with your local lawyer.

How should I classify my employees?

escape room law

A frequent debate is whether a worker should be considered an employee, or an independent contractor. Hiring an employee involves tax obligations and various benefits, so it may be tempting to label a game master an independent contractor. This may be an option in some foreign countries/jurisdictions, but for the most part in the USA, a game master would be deemed an employee.

The IRS considers three main factors when classifying workers: