<prompt> Human: My employer just changed our payroll format from W2 to 1099 because she said she was losing too much money by paying our taxes. What she did not do was change any of my duties, change my hours or issue a raise to compensate for the amount of money I will be missing out on now that I will have to pay more in taxes.I have been on a 1099 contract at many other jobs, and those have been for short term employment engagements. This however, is a dance studio where I have been employed since April of 2015, and am expected to continue working indefinitely. There are no other employees on my team who teach what I teach, and no others who have the same skills as I do. My official title at the school is Ballet Director. I dont feel like the director of an educational institution, who is solely in charge of writing, developing and upholding a ballet curriculum should be a 1099 contracted employee. I understand that the studio owner needs to save money, but by cutting employees pay by changing our payroll status without our consent or additional compensation seems unfair. I have looked over this checklist that determines wether or not an employee should be W2 or 1099 and have found my answers to lean more toward the W2 employee, with a few overlapping items.My answers to the checklist are as follows1. yes2. no3. yes4. yes5. no6. yes7. yes8. no9. yes10. yes11. yes12. yes hour13. no14. yes15. yes16. no17. no18. no19. yes20. yesIf you have any insight as to what action I should take here I would appreciate it. Even if its as simple as presenting the studio owner with documents supporting my case as I ask for a raise.Thanks!Assistant: checking over at rlegaladvice might give you more options since this seems like a legal problem.but I would start looking for a new job - the fact the employer did this without even thinking of the effects to you or even having you as part of the discussion shows she is both short sighted and not that great at running a business. Doesnt sound like someone Id want to work for.Outside of that - tell her that you need to be paid 2x your old paid to account for the increased tax load that she has put upon you or you walk. Just be ok with walking away. Let your students know what caused you to quit as well if it goes that route. Human: Thanks, Its not going to be easy to bring this up because we are such a small operation, but I know you are right. Plus, I cant afford to be taking a pay cut either!  <response>: If you cannot afford the pay cut, start looking for a job before going DOL on her. You will get paid if you go DOL, because the state will demand payment on your behalf and pay the funds to you... even if she goes bankrupt and loses the studio. 