Question

Arnold is the CEO of Beta Corp. Arnold's responsibilities include making decisions on product development, marketing and other significant business directions. Arnold's position is subject to the approval and oversight by Beta's Board of Directors.
Carol is a Beta manager whose responsibilities include directing Beta's day to day hiring, firing, purchasing and selling.
Dave is a Beta salesperson whose daily activities are controlled by Carol, his supervisor.
Fred works from home to edit Beta's technical manuals on a contract- per-manual basis (he is paid for each manual he edits), and is not otherwise subject to Beta's control.
Identify each of the persons below as a principal, an agent, an agent-employee or an independent contractor - and explain your conclusion. For example, is Arnold a principal, agent- employee, or independent contractor and why? If you believe a person can hold more than one status, discuss/explain.
A. Arnold
B. Carol
C. Dave
D. Fred

Answer 1

Answer:

Beta Corp.

A. Arnold = Agent (Arnold exercises significant power on behalf of the Beta's Board of Directors).

B. Carol = Agent-Employee (Carol does not exercise significant power on behalf of the principal (the Board of Directors of Beta).  Instead, she is subject to Beta's control)

C. Dave = Agent-Employee, just like Carol.  He is a mere employee subject to Beta's control.

D. Fred = Independent Contractor because he controls and directs the result of his work, though he does not decide the work or how it should be done.

Explanation:

Principal = a person who assigns the agent to act on her behalf.

Agent = a person who the principal authorizes to exercise significant power on her behalf.

Agent-employee = an employee of a company.  The employee does not exercise the right of control and direction of the results of her work.

Independent contractor = a person who exercises the right of control and direction for work result, and not how and what is done.