Independent contractor vs employee

An independent contractor vs employee review starts with how the work actually runs, not with what the agreement says. If the business controls schedule, methods, training, and day-to-day supervision, the arrangement usually starts looking more employee-like even if both sides signed contractor paperwork.

The useful operator question is whether the worker is running an independent business or fitting into your business in the same way an employee would. Look at who decides how the work gets done, who carries the financial upside and downside, and whether the role is part of ongoing operations instead of a bounded external service.

If the answer is mixed, use the screener to pressure-test the facts, then document the strongest signals on both sides. That gives payroll, HR, or counsel something concrete to review instead of a hand-wave about flexibility or preference.