Loading ...The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce received a submission to our Virtual Assistant RFP Center recently that was a good example of what we WON’T post to our members forum. It represents everything wrong with how the market has been educated to view Virtual Assistants as employees and remote workers rather than what they are: independent experts who specialize in administrative support.
Not only did the person submit a three-page job description expecting daily, specific hours reporting to a supervisor (among other inappropriate expectations), but they also declined to provide their name. Since they indicated that the Virtual Assistant would be a community resource to various brokers in their agency, I’m guessing they perhaps thought their particular name didn’t matter.
HUH?!
Virtual Assistance is a close, one-on-one relationship between two business owners: the Virtual Assistant and the client. A Virtual Assistant is not a community resource who is passed around at the client’s whim. And they definitely are not employees. Our administrative experts are professionals who deserve the same respect and courtesy clients would prefer to be treated with as well.
So sorry, but if you can’t be bothered to provide your name, we aren’t going to be bothered to assist you. We do not post anonymous RFPs. If you expect our members to provide you with detailed, personal information, you must be prepared to do the same.
On top of that, I absolutely detest people who try to get one over on the system and take advantage of people. It’s called being dishonest and unethical, folks. This RFP came from a Human Resources department. They damn well know better. They are just trying to cheat the law and the government and get an employee they don’t pay taxes on.
Here is how we responded:
“Thank you for your interest in the VACOC RFP Center. However, you appear to be seeking a telecommuter (which is an online employee who is still legally subject to the employment laws and employer tax obligations of the land). That is not what Virtual Assistants are, nor how they work with clients.
“You also did not include your name as requested in the form. As the submission is not appropriate, it will not be posted to our members forum. For more information about Virtual Assistants, what they are (and what they aren’t), how they help clients, as well as how they work with clients, our “Client’s Guide to Virtual Assistants will be helpful to you.”
