Engagement of non-employee workers

Abstract

Assisting an organization in managing the engagement of non-employee workers supplied by a vendor. The organization maintains a computer system that is linked to a vendor's computer system. Electronic communication allows for sharing of information between the organization's computer system and the vendor's computer system. A database management system is provided for accessing a database to create, modify, store and access non-employee worker profiles, requests for non-employee workers, work assignments, time reports, and possibly electronic versions of employment agreements. Electronic settlement means may transfer payments to the vendor in exchange for services rendered by the non-employee worker. An engaging manager may send an e-mail request to the vendor for a non-employee worker. The vendor may provide the engaging manager with an e-mail response listing all eligible non-employees workers. The engaging manager may then request a non-employee worker from the list and, via e-mail, seek approval from a supervisor for engaging the non-employee worker. An engaging manager may also search the non-employee worker profiles in the database in order to find a non-employee worker without sending an e-mail request to the vendor. Work assignments for non-employee workers are entered into the database. Work assignments may include a job description, an hourly billing rate, and identification information. A non-employee worker stores in the database a time report recording time worked against the work assignment. Time reports may be accessed by a time approver. Approved time is submitted to an accounts payable department, which handles payment of the vendor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates in general to engagement of non-employee workers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a distributed computer network configured to aid an organization in managing engagements of non-employee workers who are supplied by a vendor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many organizations engage non-employee workers for the performance of temporary jobs. Non-employee workers are also commonly referred to as contract workers, temporary workers, temps, or the like. Non-employee workers are typically supplied to an organization by vendors, which are also commonly referred to as agencies or suppliers. Typically, the organization compensates the vendor for services rendered by a non-employee worker. The vendor is the employer of the non-employee worker and is responsible for compensating the non-employee worker. [0003] The engagement of non-employee workers tends to be a paper work intensive undertaking. Records must be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, an engaging manager is responsible for requesting a non-employee worker who is suitable to fill a particular position. To find a suitable non-employee worker, the engaging manager may send an e-mail request to the vendor. Upon receipt of the e-mail request, the vendor may compile a list of all qualified and available non-employee workers. The vendor may then provide the engaging manager with an e-mail response listing all eligible non-employees workers. The engaging manager may then request a non-employee worker from the list and, via e-mail, seek the approval of a supervisor for engaging the non-employee worker. In another embodiment, the engaging manager may search the non-employee worker profiles in the database in order to find a suitable non-employee worker without having to send an e-mail request to the vendor.

Problems solved by technology

The engagement of non-employee workers tends to be a paper work intensive undertaking.

Presently, there is no desirable solution for automating the process involved in managing the engagement of non-employee workers.

In the first instance, difficulty in keeping track of the precise skills possessed by each non-employee worker may lead to the placement of unqualified workers in certain positions.

Also, from an accounting perspective, the engagement of a large number of non-employee workers may lead to cash flow problems.

For example, confusion may arise as to whether a request for compensation was approved by an authorized manager.

These and other problems associated with the engagement of non-employee workers are commonly known.

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