As a counterpoint, I was a TVC in an engineering role at a large tech company. I had interviewed with the company for a full-time role, and was invited to TVC d

As a counterpoint, I was a TVC in an engineering role at a large tech company. I had interviewed with the company for a full-time role, and was invited to TVC due to a companywide hiring freeze. I negotiated my pay directly with the company. They basically told me "we can only hire TVCs now, and the vetting process for new vendors is exhausting. If you want to start right away, join this agency." The client was the agency's primary (or maybe only) customer. I was paid an hourly rate and expected to fill out a timesheet. If I wasn't working (e.g. if I was at the end of the client's max 1 year TVC policy), I wouldn't be paid. The agency took some commission on top of my hourly rate, but I never knew what it was. The whole thing was a very thin veil to dissuade TVCs from going for back benefits like the famous Microsoft case. Both companies were upfront about that.