Am I really a independent contractor?

[Nursesruletheworld]

Hello, I work for a company that covers many different states but I work in Florida. I am known as a "independent contractor" with this company and I carry my own malpractice insurance. I have recently done some reading about what a "true" meaning of independent contractor details and it doesn't seem to fit my companies meaning so I was just wondering if I'm missing something here. My company hires staff and sets their pay grade, they make you sign a patient contract for each patient, they assign you your patients (you can decline), they set your hours, my boss calls meetings (not very often), and you must answer to her for everything from aide complaints, doctor appointment mix ups, let her aware of med changes.... and several other things. Is this TRUE independent contracting?????

[caliotter3]

Check the IRS website for info. According to the IRS, most workers are employees, not independent contractors.

[RainMom]

Doesn't sound like it to me.

Many yrs ago, when I worked in a chiropractic office, we had an independent massage therapist who came once weekly to do full body massages for pts. Pts paid him directly; the office was not involved in the transaction. My boss did not charge him for use of the space; they were friends & it was an additional service that she could advertise. Pts who saw the therapist did not always get chiro treatment.

However, we did schedule the pts' appointments; the therapist gave us a time frame he would be there, & we would schedule accordingly. Then the office was audited one year. It was determined by the IRS that the therapist was in fact an employee because we scheduled his clients & he did not pay rent for the space he used. The doctor had to pay thousands in fines & back taxes.

[Nursesruletheworld]

Oh I didn't even think about looking at that site for info. I will do that now, thank you.

[Nursesruletheworld]

WOW! That's not good!!!! I've been working for this company for a year now and since they have 3 lawyers that actually started the company I figured it was legit. All of the management are considered employees but not the nurses, therapist, or aides. And the way my "boss has been treating me lately is making me question things.

[LivinOnIce, ADN]

Sounds like a tax write-off technique to me. I was an independent contractor for a practice in which I offered training material and curriculum. I would also offer recommendations for a more efficient patient-workup process and methods to improve wait times. I was paid a charge which I set and was contracted for a specific amount of time. They were then able to (or would be able to) document my charge as a business expense.