- May 7, 2011
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Now, why do I say that an employee is a servant?
Here is the definition from Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed.) for employee:
From the above, it is the opinion of court that "employee" and "servant" are synonymous. Also note the word "service" is frequently used.
Let's look at the correlative for employee, employer. Black's Law (6th Ed.) defines it as follows:
Employer - employee.
Master - servant.
Master - slave.
The above is the historical progression of that legal relationship.
It sums up the progression of this legal relationship from slavery to serfdom to employment. The employee of today is the serf of yesteryear and the slave of ancient times.
To underscore another point, let's look at the etymology of the word "service".
Here is the definition from Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed.) for employee:
Employee. A person in the service of another under any contract for hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the employer has the power or right to control and direct the employee in the material details of how he work is to be performed. Riverbend Country Club v. Patterson, Tex.Civ.App., 399 S.W.2d 382, 383.
....
Generally, when person for whom services are performed has right to control and direct individual who performs services not only as to result to be accomplished by work but also as to details and means by which result is accomplished, individual subject to direction is an "employee".
"Servant" is synonymous with "employee". Tennessee Valley Appliances v. Rowden, 24 Tenn.App. 487, 146 S.W.2d 845, 848.
.....
See also ... Servant.
From the above, it is the opinion of court that "employee" and "servant" are synonymous. Also note the word "service" is frequently used.
Let's look at the correlative for employee, employer. Black's Law (6th Ed.) defines it as follows:
Employer. One who employes the services of others; one for whom employees work and who pays their wages or salaries. The correlative of "employee". See also MASTER.
Employer - employee.
Master - servant.
Master - slave.
The above is the historical progression of that legal relationship.
It sums up the progression of this legal relationship from slavery to serfdom to employment. The employee of today is the serf of yesteryear and the slave of ancient times.
To underscore another point, let's look at the etymology of the word "service".
Interesting what you find when you dig deeper ....service (n.) c.1100, "celebration of public worship," from O.Fr. servise, from L. servitium "slavery, servitude," from servus "slave" (see serve). Meaning "act of serving" is attested from early 13c. Sense of "duty of a military man" first recorded 1580s, hence "the military as an occupation" (1706). Meaning "the furniture of the table" (tea service, etc.) is from mid-15c. Service industry (as distinct from production) attested from 1941.