TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Agency Bandits (was Impact of IRS ruling on contractors...)
Subject:Agency Bandits (was Impact of IRS ruling on contractors...) From:DIANE BACKUS <backus -at- VNET -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 5 Mar 1997 10:04:11 -0500
Ron,
I agree with you that many technical writers benefit from companies who
provide marketing, promotion and sales work for writers' services.
However, there is a distinction between a "contracting agency" who
finds work for writers and sub-contracts with them on a 1099 basis,
and a "consulting firm" that employs writers on a W2 basis and sends
them out on temporary assignments. While it may be justified for a
contracting agency to withhold payment to it's subcontractors because
of late timesheets, I do not believe it is ever justified for any
company to withhold paychecks from it's (W2) employee (especially
in the case of the writer whose timesheet was a day late--the
original complaint on this thread).
If you are a "consulting firm" and you do not have the cash flow to
make a regular payroll, get out of the business. Be a "contracting
agency" and 'hire' people on a 1099 basis. Writers who go to work
on a W2 basis expect some level of consistency in pay, just as an
employee in an other field would expect.
Diane Backus
backus -at- vnet -dot- net
Backus Business Solutions, Inc.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
