Home > ArticlesH-F-L-Team: Working as an Independent Employee or Contractor
In seeking your Hundred-Fold-Life, in the work at home job market there are two different options to look at. You can either be an employee or an independent contractor. The two are very different and understanding them is very important. The Employee: Most people are familiar with being an employee and what that entails. In general, most jobs outside the home are employee positions. An employee works exclusively for the company. The company pays taxes on their behalf and withholds taxes form their paycheck. The person enters into an agreement to work for a certain amount of pay and usually for specified work hours. Also known as trading time for money. As an employee a person is entitled to benefits some better than others. They may get health insurance, paid days off, vacation time and other bonuses from the company. They also qualify for unemployment through the government and workers compensation due to injury on the job. An employ ee position in the work at home job market is growing but still rare. There are opportunities, but mostly the work at home jobs are for independent contractors. The Independent Contractor: An independent contractor works for no one but himself or herself. An independent contractor basically makes an agreement to work for the company. They are exclusive member of the company and are not indebted to the company. Typically the work agreement is for a set amount or set time period and the pay is often negotiable. The company dopes not pay taxes nor do they withhold taxes for the independent contractor. That is left up to you to do. The independent contractor does not get benefits and cannot qualify for certain government benefits. Furthermore, a company does not have to guarantee work beyond the end of the contract to the independent contractor. A company can use the independent contractor only when they need them. This arrangement does give the independent contractor more freedom. When an independent contractor is not in a contract with a company then they are free to work with someone else or to even take time off. This flexibility is often a top reason people choose this type of work. They have more control over their time because they are not locked into an everyday agreement. Most work at home jobs are going to fall under the position of an independent contractor. That of course is if you dona?Tt have your own Home-Based Business. Why do Work at Home Jobs Have a tendency to be for Independent Contractors? The reason is that many companies choose to use home workers because it lowers their costs. They do not have to provide a workspace for them or the tools and equipment they need to do their job. So, the company doesna?Tt want to have to be locked into using them all the time for a job that will only be needed for a short period of time. They also save on pay out benefits. Using independent contractors makes sense and saves money for a company. Also there are positions as independent contractors that are like a hybrid of being an employee and independent contractor. These positions offer a set work schedule and pay, but have the benefit of freedom, but you may have to pay your own taxes. When looking for a work at home job you should not be too stuck on finding a position as an employee, explore your options. It is best to understand both types of positions so you can choose whata?Ts best for you and for your Hundred-Fold-Life. © Douglas Miller, All rights reserved. About the Author: Douglas Miller is a retired Fire Service Captain now making a living working at home. His company Hundred-Fold-Life is not just a name but also a belief. To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: http://www.ClixGo.com Submitted on 05/02/2008 |