When must workers be classified as employees rather than independent contractors?

Employment can entail many significant benefits for employees, some or all of which are typically not granted to independent contractors.  However, workers’ entitlement to benefits is not governed simply by whether their place of work classifies them as an “independent contractor” or an “employee.”  If the “economic realities” dictate an employment relationship, but workers are nevertheless misclassified as independent contractors, these employees may be able to recover unpaid benefits for the misclassification.