Here' are problems I see
Posted By: A. Sertive on 2009-08-02
In Reply to: It's so nebulous - donex3
with having practically all ICs reclassified as employees, possibly retroactively.
Sure, the employer will have to reimburse the newly minted employees for the employer half of their social security contribution (love that term for what we are required to pay) for however many years are involved.
Doesn't that sound cool! Money just dropping from heaven? However, this also means that will have to refile our tax returns for the same years as employees, not ICs. Our self-employment tax deduction will be eliminated and possibly other business deductions, medical insurance deductions, etc. (Anybody feel competent to do this on their own? Me neither. So multiple years' worth of accountant fees to untangle the mess).
Will the employer have to make some type of reimbursement for sick and/or vacation time not received? This may come in a lump sum, which then the IRS can tax the heck out of when/if we receive it. Let's see, add in FICA reimbursement, subtract deduction for same, refigure all deductions, take out accountant fees, hmmm..... be luck to break even on the deal. So I cannot see any financial benefit coming to us for retroactively fixing the ''injustice.'' What I see is a bonanza for the IRS and tax accounts, and neither employer nor employee benefiting.
Going forward, now the companies may be expected to provide employee benefits such as sick leave, vacation time, medical, contribution to unemployment and workers' compensation. Maybe now they must also provide our ''tools'' such as computers and reference materials. And pay us a ''living'' line rate. Folks, if they are already switching to VR to get rid of the human element and/or offshoring to countries where these benefit expenses are not a problem, how long do you think any of us will be necessary to their operations?
The MT system has changed, and continues to change. Global economy/bottom line/quality be damned. MTSOs are confirming to themselves all the time that the US MT force is too demanding, overpaid and an unnecessary expense to the conduct of their business. They can get what they want from VR and demote us to editors. They can get what they want from India, Philippines and Pakistan. To stand on our principles and demand that things be restored to ''the way they used to be'' is a noble sentiment, but it's hard to get toothpaste back in the tube.
The buggy whip makers felt the same way a century ago. Some of them made a very fine product, but the automobile sort of screwed up their livelihood.
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