Under LC 3351, which of the following is included in the definition of Employee?

• A. Independent Contractor
• B. Volunteers Who Are Unpaid
• C. Customers
• D. All Elected And Appointed Paid Public Officers

Answer: (D)

Under LC 3351, the term employee is defined broadly to include anyone in the service of an employer under a contract of hire, and this extends to paid public officers. All elected and appointed paid public officers are included because they receive compensation for performing official duties and function under the direction of a public employer, just like other employees. This broad inclusion helps ensure that paid public officers have the same protections and responsibilities under the system as other workers.

Independent contractors aren’t considered employees because they aren’t in a direct employer-employee relationship and operate under a different, more autonomous arrangement. Unpaid volunteers aren’t employees since there’s no compensation for services, and customers aren’t employees since they are service recipients, not providers.