@love2research wrote:
And this is how unions came to be???
No, this is NOT how unions came to be. Unions were organized for the protection of employees who lacked the ability to negotiate the terms, conditions, benefits, and pay of the jobs. Independent Contractors are not in that category.
@love2research wrote:
I NEVER EVER EVER get a job accepted that I submit with PAD. I can't imagine the company that is requesting this job to be done would think this is appropriate, that all these expenses come out of ones pocket. I searched high and low for an answer to this or some guidelines or boundaries and all I found was something written from a lawyer standpoint who worked as an independent consultant for various jobs. I know IC in all types of fields that are allowed to submit "job specific" expenses, travel time compensation, mileage, tolls, meals, hotel stays, in addition to on the road out of the office expenses needed for job completion. Why is this any different? And this is how unions came to be???
This is different, because the ICs in many fields who submit expense reports for job related expenses are those who are contractually bound to a specific contract requiring them to take assignments in distant areas, requiring them to travel. Mystery shoppers are not bound by contract to accept assignments in distant locations.
As an Independent Contractor, it is in my best interest to get the most compensation possible for my work. If I worked for TrendSource, it would be in my company's best interest to get assignments completed at the lowest possible cost. To do that, I would utilize mystery shoppers located close to the assignment whenever possible. I would "never ever ever" pay PAD unless it was absolutely the only way I could get a particular assignment completed. When a company requests a job done by a MS IC, the company does not care where the IC is located or what expenses come out of the IC's pocket. They (and I would do the same in their place) want to take the lowest bidder. The IC needs to be smart enough to determine whether a job is a viable choice, based on income/expenses, and, if it is not a viable money-maker, don't accept the assignment.