Anthony writes:

That's what I was thinking. Classifying a worker as a contractor who holds substantially the same position as another worker you classify as an employee, is a good way to rack up a hefty bill with the IRS (for employment taxes, penalties, and interest).

The Foundation has spent a significant amount of time and money over the last 10 months reviewing precisely these issues (both internally and in consultation with outside counsel), and we're taking pains to be compliant with IRS regs and various state and federal labor-law requirements. It's complicated work, but we're not quite dumb enough simply to classify employees as contractors just for convenience.

That said, the outside contractors who are also community members seem to me to be particularly well-qualified and well-informed enough to vote in Board elections, if they choose to do so. Even if they conduct the bulk of their work outside the office (they are, in fact, outside the USA altogether).

--Mike