[roadcat]

The fact that they bought some of his articles, but he has never been an employee of theirs, means technically they have not lied.

If he accepted money for work he did for them, he's never been employed by them? Yeah, right! Like if a woman accepts some cash from a guy after sex, she's not a whore. But freelancers do negotiate terms of pay before a service, so technically freelancers have been employed. He is more technically an employee, whereas a woman in my example is not a whore. You're right, they're not forthcoming on the facts.

[Robert DeLong]

You’ve heard of consultants right? They may work on client data but they are not employed by the client.

[Robert DeLong]

Let me ask you, do you employ the plumber that you call to fix your plumbing? Do you employ the doctor that you go to see when you are in need of one? Do you employ the mechanic that fixes your car when it is needed?

Do you send any of them a W2 at the end of the year? Do you pay a share of their taxes?

Then you are not their employer, and they are not your employee.