COMPARE
USING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT WITH HIRING AN EMPLOYEE
| OBLIGATION / BENEFIT | EMPLOYEE | V.A. |
| You pay only for "Time on Task" or by project. | - | |
| Is a sounding board, if you need one. | - | |
| Helps you stay on track and on schedule. | - | |
| Handles your seasonal or periodic projects. | - | |
| No need to buy additional computer equipment or fax machine. | - | |
| No computer training needed. | - | |
| Convenient when your current staff gets overloaded. | - | |
| No time wasted on breaks or personal issues. | - | |
| Works only when you need services. | - | |
| No extra office space is required. No extra rent and/or loss of privacy. | - | |
| No need to buy an extra desk, chair, phone or supplies. | - | |
| You must pay employer social security taxes. | |
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| You must collect and pay FICA taxes. | |
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| You must pay worker’s compensation insurance. | |
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| You must pay federal and state unemployment taxes. | |
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| You must comply with OSHA. | |
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| You must comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including - minimum wage and overtime payment. | |
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| You must comply with Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) | |
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| You may possibly have to pay medical benefits, dental benefits, vision care benefits. | |
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| You may possibly have to pay vacation time, sick time and holiday time. | |
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| You may possibly have to pay for other employee benefits such as 401K, retirement plans, etc. | |
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| You pay someone to administrate the above. | |
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| You have legal responsibilities that include employee policies on working hours, sexual harassment, vacation time, sick time, leave of absence, holidays, benefits, performance reviews, grievances, terminations, substance abuse and training. | |
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| If you hire someone and lay them off, your unemployment rate may increase for years to come. | |
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| If you have the unpleasant experience of needing to fire an employee, make sure you have legal grounds or you may face a lawsuit. | |
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