The Torah commands in Parashat Emor (Vayikra 22:10), “Toshab Kohen Ve’sachir Lo Yochal Kodesh” – that a Kohen’s hired employee is not permitted to eat Teruma (the portion of agricultural produce given to a Kohen). A Kohen’s employee differs in this regard from a Kohen’s “Ebed Kena’ani” (non-Jewish servant), who, like the Kohen’s wife and children, is permitted to partake of the Kohen’s hallowed food. An “Ebed Kena’ani” is legally considered the Kohen’s property, and, as such, he is viewed as an extension of the Kohen, like the Kohen’s family, to the extent that he has the right to partake of Teruma. An employee, however, is not the Kohen’s property. Even if he is hired for an extended period of time, or even indefinitely, nevertheless, he is seen as merely having a contractual arrangement with a Kohen, and not as the Kohen’s possession. Therefore, he is no different from any other non-Kohen, who is forbidden from eating Teruma, the hallowed food reserved especially for Kohanim and their households.