Us attorneys were merely protecting the rights of those employees to get the benefits Microsoft promised to provide to its employees. Microsoft tried to classify those workers as independent contractors so as to avoid having to pay for their benefits, even though these employees sat in cubicles beside other employees doing almost the same job.

IMHO, the lesson to take from Microsoft, one of the biggest corporations in the US, is that if they can screw it up, an Owner Builder can screw it up and be liable. Pegs is right, if someone gets hurt you need (1) insurance (including WC), and (2) a contract. In that contract, you can require the sub to carry insurance, add you as an additional insured, and give you a copy of the policy binder. This is especially true with WC. WC judges, laws, etc. take a very broad view of who is an "employee" and often sweep in folks the IRS and others would classify as "independent contractors." If you hire an Itinerant who can't get workers comp because he is self-employed, I suggest you buy it yourself. If the Itinerant gets hurt (as y'all know these are heavy timbers and gnarley tools) and you don't have WC, a lawyer is going to sue you and get your new house. If you've got WC, your liability for the Itinerant's injuries will be covered by the WC, and you don't have to worry about legal fees, potential liabiilty, etc. Well worth it.