Before you hire an independent contractor in the Cayman Islands, you should know what defines this classification and how to abide by the appropriate regulations throughout the hiring process.
Independent contractors vs. employees
Independent contractors are unlike employees because they provide services and work for fees rather than salaries or wages. Contractors have complete control over where, when, and how to perform their work. Employers only have input for the final result of a project when working with a contractor, while they have total oversight with employees.
Contractors are not subject to labor laws, so they do not receive benefits or deductions from their pay to cover their taxes or social security. Misclassification, or treating an employee like a contractor, can lead to possible penalties that include fines and back payments on social security.
How to hire independent contractors in the Cayman Islands (UK)
The hiring process includes three key steps.
1. Carefully conduct interviews.
Interviews with contractors are similar to business transactions. These interviews should not focus on personal factors such as character traits or behaviors like you might in an employee interview. Contractors only need to prove they can provide the required services in order to complete your project. Limit questions to skills, education, and past projects to make this determination.
2. Create a service agreement.
After finding the right contractor, you will draft a service agreement to define the rights and obligations of the involved parties. Service agreements are similar to employment contracts, but they do not need to align with labor laws. Your service agreement should include:
- A description of the task or project
- End date of the project
- Pay rate and arrangements
3. Introduce necessities.
Formal onboarding or orientation is discouraged for contractors as it may indicate employer control. Use this time with your contractor to introduce necessities for completing the work, such as proprietary tools, workflows, and contacts at the company.
Turn to G-P when hiring independent contractors in the Cayman Islands (UK).
As an extension of our Global Growth Platform™, G-P Contractor allows companies to hire anyone, anywhere, for both short- and long-term projects. Whether you’re hiring employees or contractors, we streamline the process with a single solution for your global workforce. Contact us to learn more.
