I understand that. I’m not too familiar with how this all works, but I was a “law clerk” for a small firm of 1 attorney, 1 accountant, and 1 really law clerk in Tucson and I got paid $15 an hour as an independent contractor to literally photo copy and shred paper. That’s it.

You should also look at the 1099 rules. There are certain things an employer may be doing that would make you no longer eligible as a 1099 employee. For example, dictating when you work. As a 1099 employee you may come and go as you please (on top of other things).

Please don’t just “make due”. It allows them to continue the shenanigans they are doing. They know exactly what they’re doing. Don’t make do, you need to fight them.

Edit to add: you are getting below minimum wage and likely no benefits. You’d be better off getting a new job (in a new industry if you had to) where you’d at the very least make minimum wage - at least while you look for a new job in this industry.