Which term describes an individual who does not have mutuality of obligations, distinguishing them from an employee?

The term that best describes an individual who does not have mutuality of obligations, distinguishing them from an employee, is a causal worker. Mutuality of obligations refers to the expectation that an employer must provide work and that the employee must accept the work offered. Causal workers typically enter into a relationship where they are not obligated to take on jobs offered to them, nor is the employer obligated to provide a steady stream of work.

This characteristic of not having mutual obligations is a key factor that differentiates casual workers from traditional employees, who typically have a longstanding expectation of work and a consistent obligation to perform duties as defined by an employment contract. This distinction is important in the context of labor laws and rights, as employees have various protections under labor legislation which casual workers do not necessarily receive.

While other choices like contract employee, freelancer, and temporary staff can also describe individuals working in non-permanent or non-traditional ways, they may still imply a degree of mutual obligation or contractual relationship that does not exist for causal workers. Thus, casual workers stand out as those without this mutuality of obligations.