WHAT WOuld YOu dO?
casting a reality check on real-world conundrums
Payback Time
I work with a bureau that once
didn’t pay me for almost three
months. after 60 days, i sent a
polite email to the accounting
department advising that a late
fee was typically charged when
payments were more than 45
days late. i stated that as long
as I received half of the owed
balance now and the remainder by the end of that month,
the late fee would be waived. it’s
a reputable bureau and great
to work with, so I was happy to
allow a grace period. i know the
bureau would do the same for
me. in some situations, demanding immediate compensation is
not worth potentially damaging
a long-term relationship.
—Tim richardson, cSP
knoxville, Tenn.
After completing an
engagement for a speakers’
bureau, you are informed
there is a cash flow
problem and you will not be
compensated for 60 days
or more. Would you accept
business from the bureau
again? Would you alter your
standard bureau arrangement
going forward?
My personal policy
is to give everyone the
benefit of the doubt
one time, assuming I
had been notified in a
professional manner. The
next time I worked with
that bureau, I would be
sure that all agreements
were in writing. I also
would reinforce verbally
that the 60-day issue
was a unique, one-time
situation, and aren’t we
glad of that! When I treat
others professionally with
the spirit of cooperation
and joy, it comes back to
me multiplied.
—Cher Holton, CMC, CSP
Durham, N.C.
As a speaker and
bureau owner, I believe
that speakers should
maintain relationships
with bureaus that get
it right. I hate to burn
bridges but, in these
kinds of situations,
speakers must stand
up for themselves.
No payment received
for over 60 days is
unacceptable. Bureau
cash flow problems
are not the speaker’s
problem.
—Mike Frank, CSP, CPAE
Columbus, Ohio
Presuming this is a one-time
occurrence, I would accept the
60 days for that presentation.
If or when I was booked by the
bureau again, I would make sure
we had a clear understanding
of payment terms. if the bureau
failed to compensate me in a
timely manner again, I would terminate our relationship. i would
expect the same professional
response from the bureau if I
deviated from agreed standards.
—Brian walter, cSp
issaquah, wash.
What Would You Do? is a regular column that presents a real-life dilemma faced by professional speakers. NSA
members are encouraged to submit a dilemma for possible discussion in this column. Please submit dilemmas to
ethics@nsaspeaker.org. NSA reserves the right to edit submissions for length and style. All dilemmas will be anonymously attributed. Opinions expressed are those of the individual respondents, not NSA.
