[Phone rings]
Ann: “Cutting Edge, this is Ann.”
Customer: “I’m bringin’ in some contractors, and they can’t possibly be a liability.”
Ann (wonders what planet this guy came from, swallows her bran muffin): “Do tell.”
Customer: “They’re gonna work offsite. They can’t take a swing at my customers and they can’t steal from their co-workers. It’s foolproof, I tell ya.”
Ann (conjures up several quotes about fools:
- Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
- Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re a fool than to open it an remove all doubt
- Fools think themselves wise, a wise man knows himself to be a fool
Having your contractors work off-site does not lessen your potential liability.
You know, by now, that I can come up with host of damaging scenarios for my poor client.
- Headline: Frances Miller, convicted of dealing methamphetamines at school park. Ms. Miller, who recently was working recently as a contractor XYZ company in their after-hours call department from her suburban Westchester apartment. . .A simple criminal search would have turned this up.
- Social Media: Frances Miller: Working with XYZ is a piece of cheese cake. I can run my webcam business on the side while I’m home. Double-dipping! Call me at 888-XXX-XXXX. A call to previous employers or references could have revealed Frances had many diverse business interests and may not have been as diligent as one would have hoped for this particular opportunity.
Again, you get the picture.
Check on your independent contractors or gig workers NO MATTER where they will be working for you.
The risk isn’t worth the perceived money and time saved. There is nothing that will restore your reputation if this happens.
