Are consultants a waste of money?

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hands off the consultant -- please!

Employers seem to think they can have things both ways. A consultant is an independent contractor, not someone that corporate management gets to slap around with requirements about learning and embracing the corporate culture. That's what full-time EMPLOYEES get saddled with and is the LAST thing a good consultant wants to address.

You start treating a consultant like an employee, you will end up owing the Government lots of employment taxes that are normally witheld only for employees.

Give the consultant an assignment, negotiate a price with a completion date, and LET GO. You want to hold meetings, enforce dress codes, control information access, and generally harass the consultant with your corporate BS? Then be prepared for a big nasty surprise.

Applying "management" where it is not needed and not wanted is the primary failing of all who would outsource work to consultants. Don't know what your project requires? Refuse to trust outside experts? Then don't hire consultants!

Oh yes, and never send consultants on endless paper chases through your accounting department once an assignment is finished. Pay the guy/gal in full and on time. It's the very least you can do.

Posted by: dmennie   Posted on: 06/25/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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