How could/does freebies to contractors make them employees? I ask because I am currently a contractor where I work, but get access to the soda/beer fridge, same as all the employees.
Suppose you're a contractor who works full time at a particular company. This company is your only place of employment, and your contract doesn't have a defined term length (e.g. you're on till we don't need you anymore). Then you get all the miscellaneous perks of being a full time employee, but the company doesn't pay your holidays, time off, or health benefits. At that point, you start to look like an employee to the government.
This is why Microsoft and Google have defined contractor terms, and you can't come back for a period of time afterwards, etc.
Then I may not fall under that category, as I am a contractor in the sense that my "employer" is a staffing agency, and I am working for their client for 6 months before converting to an employee of the client. So, while I am a contractor for ClientX I am legally and employee of StaffingY
This is why Microsoft and Google have defined contractor terms, and you can't come back for a period of time afterwards, etc.