12-04-2009, 03:11 PM
http://gawker.com/5418425/time-inc-will-...he-service
I used to do freelance work for a big publisher a couple of decades ago. After it took more than 4 months for them to send me my first two checks, I came to an arrangement with the editor where he promised that he'd write out my checks, himself, when my work was approved and sent to typesetting and composition. He always dragged his feet on it so that there was at least a 2 month lag between approval of my work and my getting each check.
They still owe me money.
I'd take 2% off of my rates if it meant that I had a guaranty that I'd get paid within a reasonable time-frame... but IMHO, that's something that should be independently negotiated, not something that should be policy across-the-board. Also, I'd add a clause that if I gave them a discount and they failed to deliver in a timely fashion they'd owe me the original amount plus a late-fee.
A tipster forwarded us an e-mail that Time Inc. freelancers got this week from JPMorgan, which administers the company's invoicing. Under the cheery subject heading "Time Inc - Accelerate payments at year end!", it outlined the company's PayMeNow program, whereby you can speed up payment of your invoice for a fee, kind of like when you get a payday loan at the check cashing place down on the corner so you can afford to buy lottery tickets for the week...
Given how desperate freelancers are to be PAID NOW, largely because companies like Time Inc. never pay them on time, this is a pretty genius idea. In fact, if you take it to its logical conclusion, Time could just pay its freelances nothing instantly, thereby significantly reducing its content costs.
I used to do freelance work for a big publisher a couple of decades ago. After it took more than 4 months for them to send me my first two checks, I came to an arrangement with the editor where he promised that he'd write out my checks, himself, when my work was approved and sent to typesetting and composition. He always dragged his feet on it so that there was at least a 2 month lag between approval of my work and my getting each check.
They still owe me money.
I'd take 2% off of my rates if it meant that I had a guaranty that I'd get paid within a reasonable time-frame... but IMHO, that's something that should be independently negotiated, not something that should be policy across-the-board. Also, I'd add a clause that if I gave them a discount and they failed to deliver in a timely fashion they'd owe me the original amount plus a late-fee.