Poppy OS

FREE RESOURCE FOR STARTUP HIRING MANAGERS

Contractor Control Assessment Framework

A fillable form your managers complete before a contractor starts work. It measures how much control your company will have over the engagement, flags state-law risk, and captures a signed attestation that People Ops can keep with the contract.

Get the full fillable PDF

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DM me on LinkedIn or send me an email with the address you'd like the form sent to.

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I will send you the complete fillable PDF directly. No public comment needed.

Message me on LinkedIn Email denise@poppy-os.com

Preview the form

HIRING MANAGER FORM

Contractor Control Assessment Framework

Section 1: Engagement details

Contractor name
Business name
Role or project
State of work
Rate and pay basis
Hiring manager

Section 2: Control assessment

A. Behavioral control
Low
Med
High
Details and evidence
1. Work location
Low: Contractor chooses where to work.
High: Company requires a set site or office days.
2. Schedule and hours
Low: Contractor sets their own hours; only deadlines are fixed.
High: Company sets hours, shifts, or core availability.
3. Methods and process
Low: Contractor chooses tools, approach, and workflow.
High: Company prescribes methods or step-by-step instructions.
4. Training
Low: No training beyond project context.
High: Company trains them on how to do the work.
Preview only. The full form includes all 18 control factors, the California ABC test, risk scoring, the manager attestation, and a People Ops review section.

Rate 18 control factors

Managers score behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship of the parties as Low, Medium, or High, with guidance for every rating.

Catch state-law risk

A dedicated ABC test section covers California and other states with stricter standards than the IRS.

Document with a signature

Managers sign an attestation, and People Ops records its review decision, so your file is ready for diligence.

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Created by Denise Mathews

Denise has more than a decade of experience in HR, including two roles as the first People hire at early-stage startups. Additionally, she has experience working for a lawyer and is a self-taught vibe coder who has built custom automations, iOS apps, and programs for her consulting practice. She supports early-stage startups with everything from executive operations to technical recruiting and People org design. For potential engagements, you can reach her at denise@poppy-os.com.

This form is a general screening tool and is not legal or tax advice. Classification depends on specific facts and on federal, state, and local law. Consult an employment attorney or CPA for decisions about specific workers.