What do you think of this?

[CJF]

Probably most would be in favor of it. I have mixed feelings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100530/...sa_outsourcing

[pellegrino]

Are these the types of outsourced jobs we really want to bring back to the states? I'd rather see them bring back jobs that actually helped manufacture a product.

[thesaint258]

If something like that goes through, it'll just raise costs for the rest of us. The companies affected won't let taxes or the need to hire workers in the U.S. eat into their profit margins. They'll just increase the cost of their products to compensate for the taxes or higher rate of the American workers they hire.

[SCcoug]

I don't mind the requirement to inform callers of where the call is transferred. I don't think there needs to be an excise tax on it. And I don't think this bill would solve this problem.

But the practice brings frequent complaints from customers who say their issues are not resolved or that representatives are merely providing scripted responses.

Enough people complain about the practice of outsourced call centers then the market will correct itself without the need for a tax.

[CJF]

Are these the types of outsourced jobs we really want to bring back to the states? I'd rather see them bring back jobs that actually helped manufacture a product.

I earn my living in the outsource world. I have done it in the US and overseas. I would love to be able to get the same caliber of employee for the a fair wage in the US. The problem is, nobody in the US wants entry level call center jobs. Even in the terrible economy I struggled filling my building. In Manila, India, China, Europe, South Africa, and even Australia, my company has very little problem hiring for local programs along with American programs. In Spokane last year, my attrition rate was close to 40% some quarters while increasing wages by 15% giving away great prizes like big screen tv's, laptops, trips to Mexico, and even a brand new $22k car that included the taxes.

When I worked for an internet phone company we answered close to 100k calls a month for offshore customer care. That was for roughly 2 million customers. Roughly 1.2 million a year. A company like Verizon or AT&T with customer bases over 40 million, will send roughly 25 million calls a year overseas. (I have never worked with Verizon so I don't know if they outsource, just going on the laws of average if they do) That's a $6.25 million dollar bill or the 2 to 2.5 times the hourly wage rate increase. Every one of them will pay the tax rather than absorb that kind of hit to their bottom line to bring jobs back to the US. They will then pass that expense on to the consumer.

I would love to see more call center work shifted back to the US. I don't think it will happen until the average American level 1 call center agent decides they need a job more than they like living off the state. If that day ever comes, we're screwed. In theory, this is a great idea. In reality, the senator is probably very removed from the real world and the impact that it would have on a lot of US businesses and consumers in a negative way.

[il Padrino Ute]

[Katy Lied]

so the call center companies will be taking the brunt of the entire outsourcing problems in the US? what about all the production jobs that are outsourced? the other service jobs that are outsourced?

dumb knee jerk idea.

[Indy Coug]

Probably most would be in favor of it. I have mixed feelings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100530/...sa_outsourcing

That legislation is completely unnecessary. This is the 21st century and we live in a global economy. Get used to it.

[BoylenOver]

But the practice brings frequent complaints from customers who say their issues are not resolved or that representatives are merely providing scripted responses.

Why would bringing these jobs back to the U.S. change this?

I don't mind a bill requiring companies to tell you where your call is being transferred, but the tax is silly.

[Uncle Ted]

It seems in some cases more corporate taxes will just give companies more of a reason to move more outside of the United States. For example, computer software companies. Maybe if the US was more tax friendly to corporations there would be less reasons for companies to outsource more. US companies already pay one of the highest tax rates in the world.

[Moliere]

I have no issues talking to someone named Barbara with an Indian accent when I call tech support. They do the exact same job as someone with an American accent, which is to go through prescripted responses to your problem. Anyone who thinks that a corporation will allow some minimum wage earner to freestyle with tech support is up in the night.

If we really want to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, we need to stop paying people $30/hour (that's just cash and with benefits up to $50/hour) to perform work that includes pushing a button every 30 seconds.

[beefytee]

I have no issues talking to someone named Barbara with an Indian accent when I call tech support. They do the exact same job as someone with an American accent, which is to go through prescripted responses to your problem. Anyone who thinks that a corporation will allow some minimum wage earner to freestyle with tech support is up in the night.

I prefer "chat" with them as they are much easier to understand. I always choose that option if it is available.

[Jacob]

Probably most would be in favor of it. I have mixed feelings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100530/...sa_outsourcing

Absolutely opposed. Not a fan of protectionism. I don't even like the requirement to tell people where the call is going. It's not hare to tell that you've been transferred over seas. And sometimes a heavy southern accent is more difficult to understand.

[BoylenOver]

It seems in some cases more corporate taxes will just give companies more of a reason to move more outside of the United States. For example, computer software companies. Maybe if the US was more tax friendly to corporations there would be less reasons for companies to outsource more. US companies already pay one of the highest tax rates in the world.

I agree. The U.S. government needs to spend more time enticing businesses to pay current taxes (instead of creating offshore accounts or tax shelters) and less time creating new taxes.

[beefytee]

Absolutely opposed. Not a fan of protectionism. I don't even like the requirement to tell people where the call is going. It's not hare to tell that you've been transferred over seas. And sometimes a heavy southern accent is more difficult to understand.

I agree with this.

I do think companies are pretty stupid with their support currently. I think you could have a good support system that involved outsourcing and you can definitely have crappy support which is contained all in this country.

Why companies do not put any effort in the main contact with the customer makes me shake my head.

Look at how well Dell was doing when they focused on customer service. Then they decided to cut corners for things to look good for a few earning reports and all of a sudden they are no longer the dominant player.

Why is Best Buy dominating the retail technology industry right now?