A group of individuals began work for Microsoft as freelancers between 1987 and 1990 and were asked to sign agreements stating that they were independent contractors and were responsible for all their own benefits. Many of them had served continuously for more than two years, working at the Microsoft facility, engaging in the same functions as Microsoft employees, sharing supervisors, and working the same basic shifts. However, aside from those agreements, the only other difference was that these workers received their pay through accounts payable rather than through the payroll department and they were not eligible for benefits.