I consider myself a freelancer - work from home using my own equipment, have several clients, ltd company etc but I am increasingly seeing adverts for " freelancers" for what is obviously an employed position but the " employer" doesn't want any responsibility for employees. These so called freelancers have no protection in law as employees for things such as maternity or unfair dismissal or discrimination and the roles are usually just employee rates which don't take into account the fact that the freelancer has to pay tax and NI etc.
There are also lots of people on here who ask for advice on setting up as Freelancers for a role where they SHOULD be employed. Often people do warn them that they should be employed but I wonder if they listen and if so and they go back and ask for employment instead does the client just find someone else?
Also, does HMRC check whether self employed people should be classed as employees?