Comments on: Should I Hire Counselors as Independent Contractors or Employees?

By: Victoria Junior

Victoria Junior — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 17:05:32 +0000

I am in the process of becoming an independent contractor providing mental health counseling. Services will be provided at a particular counseling center and not at my home. What address do I use for my checking accounts, business license etc.?

By: Robin Joseph

Robin Joseph — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:46:30 +0000

I’m planning on leaving a position labeled as an independent contractor. But by your description above, I should have been an employee. The owner and I are in conflict about who owns the charts? The past precedent set by others who left, was that the charts remained at the office. I am being requested to take the charts as I am not leaving the field and opening my own office near by. I do not plan on having paper charts. I feel that if a past client is seeking their chart or to reestablish services they will contact the agency first.

By: Deborah Griffen

Deborah Griffen — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 21:45:51 +0000

Question: As a contract employee, when I complete provider insurance applications, do I put my tax ID or the practice tax ID with whom I am contracting with. The practice is not enrolling the contractors under their practice insurance application.

By: Pam Baker

Pam Baker — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 04:46:22 +0000

I’m interviewing for a job as a Therapist with my MSW and CSW as an independent contractor. All of this information has really helped me to prepare to address these issues. I’m not sure that I’m ready to consider all the things that an independent contractor needs to do as anything other than my being a business and me being the owner and the employee. Just to be straight that is exactly what all of this sounds like. “Independent contractor” seems to be the same as a business owner. Since form W-9 is filled out, it seems clear that I’m responsible for taxes, covering my own insurance, business costs to operate as an independent contractor and more. I’m a little suspicious or curious why a potential job is asking me to be an independent contractor. It seems that it can be difficult to know whether or not this is an ethical company since I will do the work without any assurance that they will pay since they could make any claim regarding not be satisfied. All after I have done the work. Is there a way to check a company for its reputation before I contract with them?

By: Francesca Dillard-Moore

Francesca Dillard-Moore — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 15:56:54 +0000

Thank you for this article. I am on the fence and am considering switching my counselors to Independent contractors IN January. My company currently offers medical at a 60/40 split to full time staff and voluntary benefits (dental, vision, Aflac) to all which are deducted via payroll. If I go to independent contractors would I still be able to offer the voluntary benefits mentioned above? Thank you.

By: Jane Lindberg

Jane Lindberg — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 16:34:27 +0000

Who pays for training? For example, the organization recently requires that I (I.C.) get a certification in CPR. Do their organizational mandates require that they pay the fee if my license does not require it? Or do I pay the fee.
Thank you,
Jane

By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:30:03 +0000

As an independent contractor, does the owner have the right to tell me how to bill and to use a specific form?

By: lorra

lorra — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:31:24 +0000

One issue not mentioned is.. what license does the potential employee/contractor have? An LPC, I believe, cannot operate as an independent contractor. I’m interested to know if the same law applies to social workers (LSW vs LCSW) and psychologists. Can you please shed some light on this issue?

By: Patti

Patti — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 00:06:32 +0000

In reply to Kevin.

That’s unfortunate. However, you must have known that you would be responsible for paying taxes, just like anyone else. You should have put the money aside to pay your taxes. Did you think someone else was paying your taxes? You’re not exempt just because your an IC.

By: Therapist

Therapist — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 17:09:57 +0000

Are there any benefits to independent contract work at a therapist? I have many supervisee’s who want independent contract work and I’ve outlined some of the benefits such as: independence, freedom without a “supervisor,” setting hours, etc. But are there other benefits I may be missing?
Thanks! Helpful article.

By: Karen Morris

Karen Morris — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 01:30:51 +0000

I work as a contract psychotherapist with a private practice. The practice moved to an office in a building which has centralized heating and cooling. The system turns off at 6pm. I an other therapists see clients frequently until 9pm. In the summer, the temperature in our offices increased.The temperature in my office often got to 80 degrees or higher. The practice owner has been unwilling to make arrangements for air conditioning during “off hours” and has told me that if I want airconditioning, I would have to pay for it myself. I would like to know if anyone else has had to deal with this kind of situation.

By: Melissa C Meisenbacher

Melissa C Meisenbacher — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 16:17:55 +0000

i will be starting at a private practice as a lcsw subcontractor but i am unable to find out the proper rates in which i will get paid in new jersey

By: Karissa

Karissa — Fri, 29 May 2015 23:53:46 +0000

Hello, thank you for this post. I am currently being transitioned from employee to “independent contractor” status. I have my own liability insurance, but the agency owner is still demanding that I pay a portion of her agency’s liability insurance. Do you have any insight into this? My signed contract only says that I need to pay for my own liability insurance. Thank you!

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:34:43 +0000

Kevin:
I too have worked as a private contractor for at least three (3) different entities. I am somewhat baffled as to how you would owe $80,000 in back taxes. Each year I worked and submitted my taxes by April 15. The forms that were completed by either myself or my hired tax preparer specifically ask for income and any additional income, which would cover a primary job and any secondary jobs and indicate how much tax is owed to the federal government (state taxes are another issue if they apply). I would then just pay the taxes owed, as indicated in the article of the counselor who did not know she needed to put aside money to cover her yearly income. I could understand one year of misunderstanding, but $80,000? I personally had no issues as a private contractor working for several different agencies. One just needs to know to put aside some of your income (because the hiring agency will not do this for you) so that when tax season comes around each year you will have the money to pay your taxes on your earned income.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 12 May 2014 02:01:47 +0000

I am a psychotherapist who worked for 8 years for a clinic treating Workers’ Comp patients. Unbelievably, I was unable to secure another position with another facility for that length of time although I continued to look. I was paid as an independent contractor, working 40 hours a week. I paid for none of my materials or office equipment. I was provided an office. I was provided business cards with the company logo, address, and phone number. My name was on the door of the clinic as were other therapists. I received no vacation time, no health insurance, no sick days and in 8 years received a $2.00 increase per hour. My “employer” insisted we were independent contractors and relied on the assurance of her accountant.

We all knew this was a means by which the employer was avoiding taxes. For a while, they even considered “forcing” us to individually incorporate to further shield them from the IRS, but after a time, hearing the rumblings of staff, they abandoned the idea.

The clinic closed and I owe back taxes of nearly $80,000. I simply couldn’t keep up with the low wage and rising costs. I filed an SS-8 with the IRS for them to make a determination of my work status (employee v. IC). I have waited a year for their determination and still no update. Word to the wise. Be very cautious if you are presented with anything like the above. ThriveWorks did the right thing. My employer did not.

By: Kylie

Kylie — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 23:47:30 +0000

This was so helpful! I am an office manager trying to handle an intern’s transition into a paid position and this answered some important questions for me. Thank you!

By: Bryan Franklin

Bryan Franklin — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:16:28 +0000

Thank you for this page. I am in the exact situation you describe. Very helpful.

Thanks,
Bryan