Final answer:
Payment to a flooring contractor for incomplete work depends on the agreed contract terms and local labor laws. Payment for time spent may be justified if it aligns with the agreement, similar to Douglass's arrangement with his master in hiring out his time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether a flooring contractor should be paid for incomplete work depends on the terms of the contract agreed upon between the contractor and the client. If the contractor has been hired on a time basis, and there has been an understanding that payment is due for the time worked, regardless of completion, then payment should reasonably be made for the time the contractor has spent on the job.
However, if the payment is contingent on the completion of the work, without any stipulations for attempted work, then the contractor may not be entitled to payment. This arrangement is somewhat akin to the one between Frederick Douglass and his master, where Douglass was allowed to hire out his time and had to pay his master, regardless of work availability. It should be reviewed in the context of local labor laws and the specific terms outlined within the contract.