New Congressional Bill Targets Companies That Outsource Call Centers

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New Congressional Bill Targets Companies That Outsource Call Centers

Posted On : Jan-10-2012 | seen (671) times | Article Word Count : 505 |

Sponsored by Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), H.R. 3596 would require all businesses that relocate a call center overseas to be part of a publicly available list and to disclose the center's physical location. It would also make those listed ineligible for Federal grants or guaranteed loans.
Also known as, "The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act", the bill, if enacted, would apply to employers that have a center and a employ a certain number of staff. Companies with 50 or more full-time employees, or 50 or more employees (of any kind) who work a combined total of at least 1,500 hours per week, are affected. Overtime hours are not included in these totals.
This would mean, for example, that a company with a call center, 30 full time employees, and 16 part time employees could theoretically be ineligible for federal grants if they move their center outside the country. The act would require these employers to notify the Secretary of Labor at least 120 days before relocating. Violations would incur the stiff penalty of $10,000 for each day of the violation.
After notifying the Secretary, these companies would remain on the publicly available list for up to 3 years. The date they are removed from the list would be pushed back up to three years from each new instance of relocating a call center.
Ineligibility status for Federal grants or guaranteed loans would remain in effect for 5 years after being added to the list. Exceptions would exist in cases where not having the grant or loan would threaten national security, harm the environment, or result in substantial job loss in the United States.
H.R. 3596, if enacted, would also require call centers to disclose their physical location at the start of each inbound or outbound call, unless the company's center is entirely located within the United States. This provision would not apply in cases where the consumer initiates the call and knows (or should reasonably know) that the center is located outside the United States. Similarly, this requirement would not apply to emergency service related calls.
Businesses that would be subject to these rules would be required to transfer the call to a U.S. based call center, at the caller's request. These businesses would be required to certify, on a yearly basis, that their overseas call centers have properly identified their locations, and that they have transferred callers to domestic centers when asked.
The Bill was introduced on December 7, 2011 and was referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee. In addition to sponsor Rep. Timothy Bishop, co-sponsors include Rep. Raymond Green (D, TX-29), Rep. Michael Grimm (R, NY-13), Rep. David McKinley (R, WV-1), and Rep. Michael Michaud (D, ME-2).
A number of U.S. based companies have expressed opposition to the bill, as have politicians in overseas countries that are popular outsourcing destinations and have large call center industries. These include Nirupama Rao, India's ambassador to the United States; and Benigno Aquino III, President of the Philippines.

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<h1>New Congressional Bill Targets Companies That Outsource Call Centers</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Nick DAlleva.aspx'>Nick DAlleva</a> Sponsored by Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.), H.R. 3596 would require all businesses that relocate a call center overseas to be part of a publicly available list and to disclose the center's physical location. It would also make those listed ineligible for Federal grants or guaranteed loans.
Also known as, "The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act", the bill, if enacted, would apply to employers that have a center and a employ a certain number of staff. Companies with 50 or more full-time employees, or 50 or more employees (of any kind) who work a combined total of at least 1,500 hours per week, are affected. Overtime hours are not included in these totals.
This would mean, for example, that a company with a call center, 30 full time employees, and 16 part time employees could theoretically be ineligible for federal grants if they move their center outside the country. The act would require these employers to notify the Secretary of Labor at least 120 days before relocating. Violations would incur the stiff penalty of $10,000 for each day of the violation.
After notifying the Secretary, these companies would remain on the publicly available list for up to 3 years. The date they are removed from the list would be pushed back up to three years from each new instance of relocating a call center. 
Ineligibility status for Federal grants or guaranteed loans would remain in effect for 5 years after being added to the list. Exceptions would exist in cases where not having the grant or loan would threaten national security, harm the environment, or result in substantial job loss in the United States.
H.R. 3596, if enacted, would also require call centers to disclose their physical location at the start of each inbound or outbound call, unless the company's center is entirely located within the United States. This provision would not apply in cases where the consumer initiates the call and knows (or should reasonably know) that the center is located outside the United States. Similarly, this requirement would not apply to emergency service related calls.
Businesses that would be subject to these rules would be required to transfer the call to a U.S. based call center, at the caller's request. These businesses would be required to certify, on a yearly basis, that their overseas call centers have properly identified their locations, and that they have transferred callers to domestic centers when asked.
The Bill was introduced on December 7, 2011 and was referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee. In addition to sponsor Rep. Timothy Bishop, co-sponsors include Rep. Raymond Green (D, TX-29), Rep. Michael Grimm (R, NY-13), Rep. David McKinley (R, WV-1), and Rep. Michael Michaud (D, ME-2). 
A number of U.S. based companies have expressed opposition to the bill, as have politicians in overseas countries that are popular outsourcing destinations and have large call center industries. These include Nirupama Rao, India's ambassador to the United States; and Benigno Aquino III, President of the Philippines.About the Author: Answering Pennsylvania operates call centers across the state, such as their <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.answeringpennsylvania.com/pa/norristown.html">Norristown answering service</a>. They are widely used by companies in regions all around the state. Their <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.answeringpennsylvania.com/pa/radnor.html">Radnor call center</a> is especially popular with towing companies because they offer 24-hour emergency dispatch service. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_New-Congressional-Bill-Targets-Companies-That-Outsource-Call-Centers_131597.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_New Congressional Bill Targets Companies That Outsource Call Centers_131597.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_New Congressional Bill Targets Companies That Outsource Call Centers_131597.aspx

Author Resource :
Answering Pennsylvania operates call centers across the state, such as their Norristown answering service. They are widely used by companies in regions all around the state. Their Radnor call center is especially popular with towing companies because they offer 24-hour emergency dispatch service.

Keywords : H.R. 3596, call centers, outsource call centers, call center overseas, federal grants, congress,

Category : Business : Customer Service

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