What is an independent contractor?

An independent contractor is an individual who provides services to a company or other individual, but is not an employee of the organization. In Washington, an independent contractor is someone who has an independent business of their own, and is not an employee of the company they are contracted to provide services to. They are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and other business costs. Independent contractors generally provide services such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, accounting, computer programming, and other specialized services. These services may be provided for a set fee or on an hourly basis. Independent contractors are usually paid in lump sums for completed projects, and are not subject to state or federal labor laws or any other employment laws, such as minimum wage or overtime laws. Under Washington’s employment law, there are several factors used to determine whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee of a company. This includes how much control a company has over the contractor’s tasks, the amount of skill the contractor has in performing their job, and the degree to which the contractor is economically dependent on the company. Overall, if a contractor is providing services to a company, but is not an employee of the company, they are most likely considered an independent contractor under Washington’s employment law.

Related FAQs

What is the Employee Polygraph Protection Act?
What is the difference between a salaried and an hourly employee?
What is the minimum wage?
What is employment law?
What are the common types of discrimination?
Are employers required to provide health and safety training to employees?
Are employees entitled to be paid for overtime worked?
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?
What is the Equal Pay Act?
What types of employment benefits are required by law?

What is an independent contractor?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts