We're subcontractors.  We have no rights and can be fired at any time.  We have 6 month renewals.

I actually went to the handbook at my current institution to double check. It describes the postdoc as a short-term training position in residence. Being at a research hospital, the language is akin to medical residents. Thus I have added 'training position' to the poll (waiting for it to update here, though).

@Alyssa, I'm wondering if we work at the same institution. The language is very similar. My boss was very upfront at saying that he preferred to get PDFs vs PDAs. He said that he's not against the union, but sometimes it made work harder, and because they get a ton of benefits (compared to PDFs) the pay was lower. IDK. I only learned about this once I was a PDF.

@Brian. Where I work we are considered independent contractors. As such, we have 0 benefits (from my international postdoc perspective). One cool thing is that even as an international, because I have a workers visa, and pay taxes I get access to provincial healthcare ... meaning I do not need to worry if for co-pays to the doctor's office, or the ER. I think Canadian PDFs can opt in to a retirement account, but I think it's more of a provincial thing than it is a school thing. The contract renewals are on a yearly basis, but if you want to leave your position you need to give 1 month's notice in advance.

Hmm, so I voted employee with limited benefits as I know we definitely get benefits, but actually reading the handbook I think we are classed as trainees, it emphatically states we are not staff.  There does seem to be some ambiguity though as there are several postdoc classifications - scholar, fellow and paid direct, some of whom are classed as employees. Perhaps I should have gone with 'I don't know' instead!

I went with employees with limited benefits, since we do get benefits no matter where our funding comes from. Although subcontracted employees could apply (since we're considered "at will"), or trainees, depending on how the contract between the PI-postdoc is written, which varied quite a bit prior to the development of our postdoc office.

Rebecca, sadly, it seems that your experience re: NRSA is not unique. A couple of PIs commented on the previous post about postdoc pay that they're in situations where it's important for their trainees to get fellowships, but if they do, then the trainees get screwed out of benefits.

I'm surprised at the amount of variation within institutions/departments.

A postdoc union is interesting. My spouse has commented that such a thing should exist and would probably solve some of the problems, but I have to read more about them before I'm convinced.