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.

1 . A method for use by an organization for managing an engagement of a non-employee worker supplied by a vendor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 requesting the non-employee worker from the vendor;    storing a work assignment for the non-employee worker in a database;    providing the non-employee worker with access to the database so that the non-employee worker may enter therein a time report associated with the work assignment; and    accessing the database to approve the time report.    
     
     
         2 - 38 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of compensating the vendor for services rendered by the non-employee worker upon approval of the time report.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of prior to storing the work assignment in the database, electronically communicating with a manager of the organization to obtain approval for the work assignment.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organization and the vendor have a previously executed master agreement on file; and 
 wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting a supplemental agreement to the vendor to memorialize one or more terms of the engagement of the non-employee worker.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of receiving an executed copy of the supplemental agreement from the vendor prior to providing the non-employee worker with access to the database.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of accessing the database to approve the time report is performed at a time interval agreed to by the organization and the vendor.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing an evaluation of the engagement of the non-employee worker in the database.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the time report lists both time billed and expenses incurred by the non-employee worker during the engagement; and 
 wherein the method further comprises the step of upon approval of the time report, reimbursing the vendor for the expenses incurred by the non-employee worker.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database comprises a non-employee worker profile for each of a plurality of non-employee workers supplied by at least the vendor; and 
 wherein the non-employee worker profile comprises a name and a unique identification number.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the non-employee worker profile further comprises at least one prior evaluation relating to past engagements.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the non-employee worker profile further comprises a detailed list of skills.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the profile further comprises a billing rate that is related to the detailed list of skills.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vendor is provided with at least partial access to the database; and 
 wherein the vendor stores in the database a profile for each non-employee worker supplied by the vendor.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the work assignment comprises a start date for the engagement, an end date for the engagement, a task description, and a billing rate.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of receiving an indication that the engagement has been completed; and 
 in response to receiving the indication, closing the work assignment such that the time report is unable to be modified by the non-employee worker.    
     
     
         53 . A method for use by an organization for managing an engagement of a non-employee worker supplied by a vendor, the method comprising the steps of: 
 requesting a non-employee worker from a vendor;    providing the non-employee worker with access to a database so that the non-employee worker may enter therein a time report;    accessing the database to approve the time report; and    upon arrival of the time report, compensating the vendor for services rendered by then on-employee worker.    
     
     
         54 . A system for assisting an organization in managing an engagement of a non-employee work supplied by a vendor, the system comprising: 
 an organization computer system comprising a database and at least one workstation; and    a database management system on the at least one workstation, the database management system comprising computer executable instructions for: 
 allowing an engaging manager to store a work assignment for the non-employee worker in the database,  
 allowing a work assignment approver to access and approve the work assignment,  
 allowing the non-employee worker to store a time report in the database, and  
 allowing a time approver to access and approve the time report.  
   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the database management system further comprises computer executable instructions for allowing the engaging manager to select the non-employee worker from the database, the database storing data for a plurality of non-employee workers supplied by the vendor.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising electronic communication means for communicating a request from the organization computer system to a vendor computer system for the non-employee worker.