Benefits for Contractors and Short-Term Contracted Talent

[danimal1979]

Are these negotiated seperate or are there some 'always built in' laws that apply to contracted / part time / short term employees?

For example, are we supposed to be given paid lunches? Do we get certain benefits that full-time / company resident employees get?

[cbg]

There are few if any benefits that are required by law even to permanent/full time/long term employees.

Paid lunches are not among them.

[danimal1979]

Not even in California?

[cbg]

Not even in California.

Maybe we can make this easier. Specifically what benefits are you talking about? And are you an employee (get a W-2 at the end of the year) or a contractor (get a 1099 at the end of the year)?

It makes a difference.

[danimal1979]

I'm an employee of a contracting company, hired out to various as talent/a contract worker for a time period. I have a W9 and invoice clients through the company.

[cbg]

Are you telling me that you work for a staffing agency?

[danimal1979]

No. I work for a production co, but they hire me out to other companies to either consult or assist in development with things.

[cbg]

When you file your taxes at the end of the year, does the production company send you a W-2 or a 1099? I'm sorry to keep harping on this, but it really does make a difference to the answer.

And you were going to tell me what kind of benefits you were concerned about.

[danimal1979]

I'm only interested in whether I get paid lunch for a day that goes from 10-6.

I haven't been there a year so I don't know what those are. A 1099 sounds familiar though...

[cbg]

No, no matter what your status, they have no legal obligation to provide you with a paid lunch period.