McDonalds workers have required shifts, must wear uniforms, are provided with all the food they serve, etc, etc. Pretty poor analogy.
These things have nothing to do with my status as an employee or contractor as you'd never guess which one I was based on these facts.
In software, the tools are a big determination, i.e., do you provide your own laptop? You might be a contractor. Are you given benefits such as reasonable vacation days? You might be an employee.
Mis-categorization of employees is a big issue for the IRS and few "contractors" are informed or in a position to threaten to challenge it.
In the software business, I've had an employer who gave me an employment contract and then just decided to write me checks like a contractor each month until I raised a fuss.