Question

Write two-to-three paragraph responses to each of the following questions.

Describe a scenario in which a person has been classified by an organization as an “independent contractor”, in which that classification is illegal, but plausibly ETHICAL.

Answer 1

Independent contractor is a person who is engaged by an organisation for accomplishing certain tasks for a limited period. The person has an occasional association with the company, which has little influence on his way of work, timings, schedule and other assignments taken up by him, as long as the task agreed upon by both parties is accomlpished accordng to the terms laid down by the agreement. An independent contractor is not covered for medical insurance or social security by the engaging company and has to do it on his /her own.

The classification of a person as independent contractor or an employee by the company depends on a number of factors like terms of engagement, influence of company on his work, schedule and frequency and continuity of association among others.

A hypothetical scenario -

Charlie is engaged by the ABC navigation company for mending its boats as and when required. The company came to know about his boatmaking skills and he was asked to work four days a week. He worked just as other full time employees worked, without being classified as one. This year, a devastating flood rocked the region and ABC nevigation was engaged by government authorities to make boats which were needed on urgent basis to meet the needs of the time. Charlie is working everyday till late evening, sometime more than the regular workers for past two months with rescue teams. He will continue to do so for next six months as the company has won a contract from the government, and company has only three boatmakers, Charlie included. He is still an independent contractor, which is illegal, given the work he is doing, but ethical because his work is saving many lives. If the company does to avail his services, many lives will be lost as a new replacement will take some time. It can not regulate him as a full time worker because it does not know as to how long the government contract will last.