Contract work

[solemn]

Networkomni is not paying its contract interpreters

[paul]

solemn wrote:

Networkomni is not paying its contract interpreters

Are you still working for Network Omni I am and they owe me for Feb, Mar, April

[paul]

Has anyone been in contact with the attorney filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of the contract interpreters?

contact [e-mail] for more information

[paul]

solemn wrote:

Networkomni is not paying its contract interpreters

are you based in california?

[Michelle]

I have not been paid by NetworkOmni for a translation job done in February.

[Intrepreter]

Nashua Interpreter Sues Over Book

By KATHARINE WEBSTER Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press
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CONCORD, N.H.— A company that provides translation services and cultural sensitivity training to other organizations is being accused of sex discrimination and racial insensitivity in its own ranks.

Nataly Kelly, 31, of Nashua, the former director of product development for NetworkOmni Multilingual Communications Inc., of Westlake Village, Calif., filed a sex discrimination and retaliation complaint with the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission on Monday.

Kelly, who mostly telecommuted from her home in Nashua, alleges her supervisor made sexual comments and gestures that made her uncomfortable when they met in person.

She also said company executives ignored her complaints that she and other female employees were sexually harassed or discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. When she persisted, the company retaliated by blocking publication of her book on telephone interpreting, she said.

Last month, Kelly also filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Concord alleging copyright infringement and wrongful termination, saying she felt she had no choice but to resign because her supervisor had become so hostile. She also accused the company of interfering with her efforts to obtain other work after she resigned in April.

Company spokeswoman Tammy Gentry said she was not able to comment Monday afternoon. Alexa Hohensee, corporate counsel for NetworkOmni, said the company was declining to comment for now. Matthew Porter, the Boston lawyer representing the company in the federal litigation, did not return a telephone message.

Both the complaint and the lawsuit say NetworkOmni's in-house lawyer agreed the company had no legal right to her book, which Kelly said was mostly written before she became a full-time employee in 2005.

But in April, five days after she resigned, the company wrote a threatening letter to Kelly's publisher stating the book was essentially company property and contained confidential and proprietary business information, her lawsuit said.

As a result, the book's release _ scheduled for last month _ has been postponed until the dispute is resolved, the lawsuit said.

The company has asked the U.S. District Court in Concord to dismiss the suit or transfer it to the District of Central California, arguing Kelly cannot sue for copyright infringement because the company has not copied her work, according to court records.

Kelly is seeking a declaration that she owns the rights to the book _ an ordinary contract dispute about whether the terms of her employment make the book company property or not, NetworkOmni said.

To bolster her discrimination complaint with the state, Kelly included photos allegedly showing the company's top two human resources executives dressed up for the 2005 corporate Halloween party as a black pimp and a white prostitute. The "pimp," a white woman wearing blackface and sporting a fake gold tooth, won the prize for best costume, the complaint said.

"These actions clearly demonstrate that discriminatory views of minorities and women permeate the corporate culture," the complaint said.

Kelly said she had directed many of her complaints about discrimination to the two human resources executives. She said she did not attend the party and only learned of the women's costumes recently when someone gave her the photos.

One of the products she developed for NetworkOmni was a training program in "cultural competence" for clients, such as doctors and nurses, to help them deal sensitively and knowledgeably with people of various nationalities and ethnic groups.

"I was completely shocked, because here I worked to develop programs to combat exactly this type of thing," she said in a telephone interview Monday.

[kelly]

NetworkOmni apparently has issues with its labor force at this time, something companies should take into consideration before contracting them. If the labor force is not being paid or are being mistreated in any way are they providing the best quality service?

[Lizbeth]

I agree Network Omni's lack of pay is a complete disgrace and utter slap in the face for those of us who have worked countless hours.

[kelly]

Lizbeth wrote:

I agree Network Omni's lack of pay is a complete disgrace and utter slap in the face for those of us who have worked countless hours.

are you still working for them?

[Mark]

Can someone give me the details about the class action lawsuit? Which firm is handling it and how do we get in contact with it?

[kelly]

The attorney is in California, lawsuit has been filed already, the attorney is Jonathan Biddle, Los Angeles, CA

[Tin]

Oh My God, I am so upset right, lawsuit has been filed! WONDERFUL!

[Randy]

Tin wrote:

Oh My God, I am so upset right, lawsuit has been filed! WONDERFUL!

They contacted me today to interprete for them... Should I do it? Is any one getting paid?

[latestOmni victim]

Randy wrote:

<quoted text>
They contacted me today to interprete for them... Should I do it? Is any one getting paid?

I wouldn't take work from them if I were you. They owe me multiple thousands of dollars and still have the balls to offer me more work. I told them if they want me to work for them then they should bring my account current. I worked for them in good faith and have not received payment in alsmost three months. WARNING: WORK AT THE RISK OF NOT GETTING PAID!

[bluetitina]

There has been a breach of contract on behalf of NetworkOmni since December 2006. The delay has starter to stall eversince. Today, they still owe me February, March, April and May, as an onsite interpreter, and March, April and May as a phone interpreter. I am so happy that class action law suit has been file against them. I called they attorney. His name is Jonathan Biddle, Los Angeles, CA,

[kelly]

Do not take any work from them until they pay you, they are calling people because so many interpreters have been leaving due to non-payment.

Have you contacted the attorney about the lawsuit? Are you a work from home interpreter?

Good Luck

[kelly]

bluetitina wrote:

There has been a breach of contract on behalf of NetworkOmni since December 2006. The delay has starter to stall eversince. Today, they still owe me February, March, April and May, as an onsite interpreter, and March, April and May as a phone interpreter. I am so happy that class action law suit has been file against them. I called they attorney. His name is Jonathan Biddle, Los Angeles, CA,

Where was the other breach of contract lawsuit filed, and am I understanding correctly you worked as an on-site interpreter? You should contact the EDD if you are based in California.

[Tin]

Ah ah!
Everytime they call me I tell the operator that Network Omni is not paying me so I am not receiving calls.

They owe me March, April and May.

[kelly]

I am wondering if anyone knows how to send out a mass mailing via internet to newspapers or magazines, tell them our story and get public support for what is happening to us. Network Omni provides services to various government agencies and huge corporations, I am pretty sure their clients have no idea how Omni treats its' interpreters. If anyone has any contacts pass the information along. please. Lawsuits are great but they can take time, public opinion is immediate and can pursuade Omni to do the right thing.

[Raul]

If anyone reads Business Week the topic of both lawsuits against Network Omni are being discussed, somebody mentioned contacting the NAACP, sounds like a good idea.

I have worked with Omni for years now and am owed since February, I am a single parent and this is a scary time for me and my family. Did anyone else get the lates memo about keping track of our own hours otherwise we will not get paid or will delay payment even more? Incredible nerve!!!!!!