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.
Subject:Re: Billing Problems with Corporate Client From:SLSTAGGS <slstaggs -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 7 Jan 1998 14:40:39 -0500
<<We just got a new contract from this "temp agency".
They want us to provide a ton of documentation, including
articles of incorporation, Fed Tax ID certification, their
questionnaire, and proof of a total of 4 million dollars of
liability insurance. (BTW, we work exclusively offsite and
currently have no employees.)>>
Strange. I've been in a similar situation, where the company (usually a huge
one) wants to hire me directly but can't put me on their list of "approved
vendors" for various reasons. So I work through the temp agency in name only.
My rate doesn't change, the temp agency has no control over me managerially,
and all I've ever had to do was register with the agency. However, when I do
this, I don't work under my company banner but as an individual contractor.
Technically, you're an employee of the temp agency in these situations...maybe
the answer lies in working for them as yourselves versus working for them as a
corporation...your "corporateness" could be frightening them into being weird.