What is the employment status of a carpenter being paid $16 per hour who completes a project while working under the contractor's defined schedule?

The employment status of the carpenter being paid $16 per hour and completing a project under the contractor's defined schedule is classified as an employee. This is primarily due to the nature of the work arrangement, where the contractor exercises a significant degree of control over how and when the carpenter performs their tasks. When workers are subjected to a defined schedule set by an employer and receive hourly wages, it typically indicates an employment relationship rather than an independent contractor status.

Employees are often entitled to various benefits that independent contractors do not receive, such as unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and other labor protections, which further aligns with the characteristics of the carpenter's situation. The essential factor in determining employment status revolves around the control the employer has over the work and its performance, as well as how the worker is compensated.

In contrast, the other classifications do not apply in this scenario. An independent contractor usually operates with autonomy over how their work is completed, with no set schedule imposed by the employer. Temporary workers are often employed through staffing agencies for short-term positions, while freelancers typically engage in project-based work and have the freedom to choose when and how they work, which is not descriptive of the carpenter’s situation.