I was hired to take over a small company’s small customer support. When I started last month it was in shambles. The one support agent they had was basically shirking all work. I now understand why.
So I get there, form a plan, solve new problems as they arise, and start working my way through the back log. It’s been a month. I have nothing to do now. An hour, maybe two, of work a day in reality. I twiddle my thumbs for the rest of the time.
As an overly excitable ADD case, my ability to control my emotions and volume is lacking. So when I caught the company involved in malfeasance I started yelling. When I was getting pushed around by the new operations manager, I started yelling sarcastically. So the CEO tells me that people don’t want to work with me. He wants me to WFH. I’m more or less stoked. No hour commute. Get to have breakfast with my kids and take them to school. I’m here for it.
That’s when things take a turn. The CEO comes up with a plan. Instead of staying an employee, he’ll make me a contractor. I’ll be doing the same thing but from home. He won’t be paying payroll taxes, benefits or workman’s comp. I’ll have to provide my own tools of the trade. But he did write the contract that I get an hours pay every time the phone rings whether it’s a minute, ten or sixty.
I’m filing a misclassification complaint with the state, contacting the IRS and consulting with a lawyer. If anyone has any other ideas or thoughts please share.