> You may want to explore the world of permatemps where MSFT, et al, absolutely, and viciously exploited contractors on revolving short term contracts (When I w

> You may want to explore the world of permatemps where MSFT, et al, absolutely, and viciously exploited contractors on revolving short term contracts (When I was at MSFT, I knew of multiple people - who would have loved to been FTEs for a variety of reasons - who had been there for over a decade on revolving six month contracts). I realize some companies do this. It sounds like Google may be one of them. On the other hand, some companies did and still do regularly convert contractors into regular employees, and conversely many do use short-term contracts for needs that are actually short-term. > To me, a lot of the black and white, "Okay, fine, zero other benefits" was a punitive response to the permatemp lawsuits. I think calling it "punitive" is imputing a malign motive that doesn't exist. There's legal precedent that giving contractors any of the same benefits as employees can lead to them being reclassified as employees, so companies stopped giving contractors benefits.