I doubt she's an "employee." Probably an independent contractor. But either way, that makes no difference. I think Burnett can smell the money, and she knows it. She could have made allowing ex-cons to try out a condition of doing the show. She didn't b/c she doesn't care about them. She's a phony--a limousine lib, like Schlussel said, IMHO.
It would make sense that the production company handled the details of this show, and Burnett pitched it to her. If he hadn't gotten Martha, he would have gotten someone else or would have stayed with Trump.
I highly doubt she has that much control over the show. Remember, she was still in prison when this deal was made, and she had no idea the popularity or come-back status she would have when she got out. So at that point she was just lucky to have a gig.
That's my take on it anyway.