Independent Contractor Policy
Responsible Office: HR Labor and Employee Relations and Financial Policy Office, Office of the Controller
Date Effective: 10/04/2000
Date Revised: 07/01/2019
Independent Contractor Policy
Independent Contractor Policy Overview (web-based training)
School-Specific Policies
Web Based Independent Contractor Training - Employees can now take a web-based training giving an overview of the Independent Contractor Policy. The Independent Contractor Policy Overview (University-Wide, Online) gives an overview of the policy as well as the questionnaire and provides guidance and clarification on roles and responsibilities and when and how to classify an individual as an employee or independent contractor. The course can be found on Harvard’s Training Portal.
Policy Statement
It is Harvard’s policy that an individual who is paid to provide services to Harvard must be hired as an employee unless the engagement satisfies the three-part Independent Contractor test.
An Independent Contractor (IC) is generally an individual who is in an independent trade, business, or profession and offers services to the general public. An IC may work as an individual or through a business entity such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability corporation. ICs are sometimes also referred to as consultants, 1099s, contractors, or vendors.
A worker’s preference is not relevant to the classification determination, nor is that of the local department or unit wishing to engage the individual.
Independent Contractor Policy Table of Contents
- Policy Statement
- Reason for Policy
- Who Must Comply
- Responsibilities and Procedures
- Resonsibilities and Contacts
- Related Resources
- Revision History
- Appendices
- Independent Contractor Policy - PDF Download
- Independent Contractor Questionnaire
- Independent Contractor Exceptions Attestation Form
- IC Policy Flowchart
- IC Policy Guest Speaker Flowchart
- Payment Categoriers and Hiring Methods if Classified as an Employee