The Difference Between Contract, Part-Time and Full-Time Workers

Full-time employment is still the standard, but contract work is gaining ground. Whether they drove for Uber or offered accounting services, 16% of Americans have performed some kind of gig work in their lives. Very few of them did it full-time, but most — 82% — said they were happier working on their own than as an employee at a company. Whether you’re a part-time graphic designer or full-time software developer, you can sell your skills to corporate or individual clients for projects or contracts with a set length. Treating a contractor as an employee without offering benefits or withholding taxes can get you in trouble with the government.

The hiring and onboarding process involved in converting a contractor to an employee will differ from the conventional talent acquisition process. The first major difference is that the worker is already familiar with the company, and management is already familiar with the worker’s skills and abilities. Therefore, the hiring process won’t require the same interviewing process as it would with a traditional new hire. However, converting a contractor to an employee has some other steps that aren’t involved in the normal hiring process. Independent contractors work with multiple clients in most cases, so they have their own “toolbox” and are responsible for getting their own equipment to do the work.

What’s the Difference Between Contractors and Employees?

However, they may want the stability of a full-time (or even part-time) position with your company. Freelancers and contractors who work with your competitors can give you insights into best practices (within ethical boundaries, of course). Arriving early in the morning, unlocking the front door of your shop, and welcoming customers throughout the day?

contractor vs full time employee

As the employer of a 1099 contractor, your only responsibility is to pay the contractor’s fees as invoiced, then supply a Form-1099 each January detailing payments made. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Suppose you and your accountant are still unsure of a worker’s classification. A worker who believes they are incorrectly classified can submit Form SS-8 too.

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As with most decisions, there’s no choice that’s always right when it comes to contractors versus employees. Are you looking for a specialized worker or someone with a more general skill set? Only by asking these questions and considering all the various factors can you make the right choice for you. Hiring contractors can save you some of the costs of these benefits.

In exchange, employers generally own anything created by the employee during the time of employment. Some employers implement attendance and time-tracking policies for their workforce to monitor their productivity. One of the biggest differences between full-time employees and independent contractors is how they’re paid. Full-time employees (often referred to as W-2 employees) are hired directly by a company and are on its payroll. They usually work 40 hours a week and complete tasks for the company on a daily basis.

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It might be necessary to either adjust your project timetable (which could cost you time and money) or hire a different contractor to complete the full scope of work on a given project. Since contractors are their own employers, they have the advantage of being able to deduct business expenses. Any costs incurred that can be viewed as work related, including gas, mileage, rent/mortgage (if the contractor works from a home office), computer, and cell phone can be written off at tax time. Employees, who usually have most of those things provided by the employer, don’t get the same tax breaks. Converting contractors to full-time employees has advantages for your company and your workers. Discussing the pros and cons can help employers and workers determine whether the transition is appropriate and advantageous for both parties.

A professional salary negotiator walks through every piece of a real-world salary negotiation email sample to show you how contract vs full time salary to negotiate the best compensation possible. That way, you can compare the salary for each role to each other role.