The team of more than 40 went on strike in February last year, demanding changes to Google’s return-to-work policy.

If Google’s return to work policy affects them, then they were probably employees misclassified as a contractor.

Facts that provide evidence of the degree of control and independence fall into three categories:

-Behavioral: Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job?

-Financial: Are the business aspects of the worker’s job controlled by the payer? (these include things like how worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who provides tools/supplies, etc.)

-Type of relationship: Are there written contracts or employee type benefits (that is, pension plan, insurance, vacation pay, etc.)? Will the relationship continue and is the work performed a key aspect of the business?

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee