Final answer:
Albert is both an agent and an employee of the company as he is authorized to enter into contracts on behalf of the company and is under the company's control as a worker.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Albert enters into contracts for the company with its suppliers, he is acting in a specific role on behalf of the construction company. As an employee who is responsible for purchasing the company's building supplies, his role is defined by the duties he performs. Therefore, the correct answer to whether Albert is an employee of the company, an agent of the company, both an agent and an employee of the company, or an independent contractor is: c. both an agent and an employee of the company.
As an employee, Albert is paid to perform tasks and responsibilities that are under the control and direction of the company. As an agent, he is authorized to enter into contracts and make decisions that bind the company in transactions with third parties, such as suppliers. That makes him both an employee, due to his work relationship, and an agent, due to his authority to act on behalf of the company.