Referring to it as a caste system is pretty offensive tbh. It's a distinction between different types of highly paid tech worker ... not a system of oppression.
In the UK we have IR35 laws that say contractors must be distinct from employees in various ways.
The legislation is a shitshow.
It was supposed to be a way to protect people from zero-hours contracts but ended up being a way to extort more tax from businesses.
As a result, contractors face very odd rules to ensure that if HMRC (the UK tax body) comes knocking ... everything seems legit.
This means everything is policed from how you write emails to if you pay for the Christmas team meal.
In the UK we have IR35 laws that say contractors must be distinct from employees in various ways.
The legislation is a shitshow.
It was supposed to be a way to protect people from zero-hours contracts but ended up being a way to extort more tax from businesses.
As a result, contractors face very odd rules to ensure that if HMRC (the UK tax body) comes knocking ... everything seems legit.
This means everything is policed from how you write emails to if you pay for the Christmas team meal.