myVRS Relay Central LLC Blog: » Sorenson Communications Layoffs Employees After FCC Change VRS Tired Rate

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Sorenson Communications Layoffs Employees After FCC Change VRS Tired Rate

News just came in and I am not sure if it’s true but rumors has been spreading around that Sorenson Communications laid off many employees including interprters. If you are one of these affected, we want to talk to you. We want share more details of this cause. We will publish all comments anonymous upon requested. Sorenson Communications did this after FCC approved the new VRS tired rate plan and made us wonder what is the news?

If you are aware, there is a discussion going on at AllDeaf about this news, you can go to:

http://www.alldeaf.com/relay-services/80554-sorenson-still-laid-off-people-after-getting-rates-they-wanted.html

Stay tuned for this more detailed story when we have more information. Remember, this is pending story and we have not gotten the facts as yet but we will find out and deliver the story to you.

08/04/10 Update 23:30 PM EST: 400 employees was laid off and several call centers was closed. Also, 20 Employees in NH was laid off and the call center was closed with 20 minute warning notice and left all employees in shock without formal announcement.

08/05/10 Update 17:58 PM EST: The reason of this layoff so Sorenson Communications can be able to cover the $130 million debt to investors plus the on-going $1.5 Billion debt too. They claim it’s FCC fault but it is not. Edison, NJ call center now closed. 7 Technical support in Rochester trimmed out of job out of 22 nationalwide. St. Louis, MO call center now closed.

08/05/10 Update 18:27 PM EST: Rumors saying that El Paso, TX call center closed.

08/05/10 Update 22:14 PM EST: Fairfax, VA call center closed as of 6pm today.

08/06/10 Update 14:26PM EST: Harrisburg, PA call center closed. Nearly 300 interpters, 22 Technical Support, 40 CIR’s and 2 FHD positions are laid off. Sorenson made a video about the layoffs can be found at www.sorensonvrs.com/layoffs. They claim its FCC’s fault. The fact? It’s Sorenson’s fault to get in mess not FCC.

08/06/10 Update 22:10PM EST: Concord, NH office updated to 35 employees from 22.

08/09/10 Update 22:44PM EST: Concord, NH newspaper explains story about the call center closing and 35 employees laidoff: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/interpreters-for-the-deaf-out-of-jobs

*All information is pending for review until official number is provided to accurate make sure the news is correct.

Published by admin, on August 4th, 2010 at 11:30 pm. Filled under: myVRS News • 82 Comments

82 Responses to “Sorenson Communications Layoffs Employees After FCC Change VRS Tired Rate”

As one of the people let go today, I can honestly say that I’m disgusted with Sorenson. Don’t get me wrong–Sorenson has done some great things for their employees, but they could have gotten around this financial crisis in a different way than laying off their employees.

Sorenson spends thousands and thousands of dollars catering meals for workshops, meetings, classes, and so forth. I’ve worked for several big companies and i’ve never seen this amount on food.

Sorenson could have cut the VRSII program, a program that is a huge waste of millions of dollars. They’ve lost five employees (all of whom resigned) in a year–and this is out of 9 employees total. They wasted alot of money on this program, only to cancel workshops, cancel classes, and spend insane amounts to bring in educators who didn’t contribute much to the program itself. Closing the VRSII alone could have saved hundreds of jobs.

Sorenson could have cut some of the clerical workers. Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve worked in several large companies, some larger than Sorenson, but Sorenson by far had the most secretaries I’ve ever seen.

Last, but not least, to top it all off, Sorenson mentioned several times; here at Sorenson headquarters and publicly, that they could manage on 5 dollars per minute. What happened to that?

Comment by Spencer on August 5, 2010 at 1:45 am

If this news is true then I am very happy and hope that some inepted interpreters will get laid off and tech men from streets too. For few years I had tough time with tech men as it took them hours to reply my e-mail when Vp/router was down. Lucky the local tech guy in my area always willing to come to my place on volunteer basis and solved problems in minutes…real genius and gifted tech. I never understand why he never got promotion…is it because he is not mormon? I wonder. Some relay interpreters are very good…I always found out why…it is because they are not CODA. CODA interpreters always play their computer while we waited for someone to come to the phone (not long wait)/ I hope CODA interpreters get laid off and Sorenson keep non CODA interpters on payroll.

Comment by Penny on August 5, 2010 at 2:52 am

Before I start, my hearts and thoughts goes out to the Deaf employee of Sorenson who was laid off. It’s not fun, it not easy and not fair being laid off after working hard. I know some of the ex employees done a great job, some done better than the ones who are being kept still at Sorenson.

But like i have always said in the past, Sorenson VRS had this coming for a while now.

1) They went public accusing another VRS provider they will go out of business, they even made a video mail and sent it to their customers explaining other VRS provider like Purple will be going out of business, they said Sorenson is in great finance shape and they are here to stay many more years to come. (Vice president made this remark)
(*** We know this is a lie now because look Purple still standing and seems to be going stronger than they were year ago. More important no other VRS or Purple went out of business like Vice President said.***)

2)It was discovered Sorenson had borrowed over 750 million dollars to pay back the investor’s profit which after interest rate it goes over 1.5 billion dollars in debt. Sorenson tried to play it off by saying ‘they are just like any other business, they borrow money to keep business running and to invest in products for the customers’
(***Ha ha this is bullshit, we all know that because we still have the frigging old VP 200 device. It same product for past 3 years and nothing has change or gotten better! What they refuse to tell you, real purpose was to borrow money to make the hearing investor richer and Sorenson to re pay it back in five years.***)

3)Shortly after FCC made their announcement regards to the new rates, Sorenson panic and gave out false information. Once again the Vice President announce that VRS will disspear, Sorenson will be face to file bankpurp[ty and that their service will never be the same. Again it was mention VRS will go away, first time Vice President targert Purple, and now he targeted all VRS as in saying ‘VRS will disappear due to FCC decision regards to the rate.
(***What happen? thought all VRS will disappear. Once again bullshitting us and trying to blame FCC instead of accepting fact they groofed up***)

4)Sorenson had proposed to FCC along with other VRS provider. Sorenson was the only VRS provider that propose one rate while other VRS provider was working with FCC regard with new rate they decided. Other VRS provider showed date proof to back up their cost while Sorenson did not. However at the end, Sorenson was able to get what they wanted in regards to the rate from FCC.

5) Now Sorenson is the only VRS that now making major lay off!!!

(*** Again look what is happening, Vice President stated Sorenson is in great shape, while other VRS like Purple will go out of business. Then they tell public that FCC decision will impact all VRS provider and that it will never be the same. Last they tried to blame FCC on the reason why their business will not be the same when in FACT THEY BORROWED total 1.5 billions dollars which that hurt their business. And last now they are the one making the major lay offs, changing their business and makes me wonder maybe Vice President really meant was ‘Sorenson VRS will disappear” and this is only the beginning what we seeing on Sorenson VRS going away.***)

It simple,

Dirty business + Sorenson Communication = GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!!

Comment by Jason on August 5, 2010 at 1:44 pm

Okay, well I work/worked for Sorenson — The facts are; People were laid off (unfortunately) because of the fact that the stay was denied – then the company had to make changes accordingly, simple as that. I am not bitter or anything like that – I expected this to occur, Sorenson did warn us all – Sorry if you got your facts wrong.

5.xx has allowed sorenson to continue operations with restructuring.
3.xx would have bankrupted sorenson and shut down the company. Simple as that.

I do agree that Sorenson did have extravagent expenses such as Spencer mentioned. Hindsight is 20/20 I’d say.

It was a very sad and raw day for all of us at Sorenson yesterday and for all of our customers as well becuase everybody gets impacted by this, I’m sorry to say, everybody who is left has to work 100x harder than ever before to provide the same quality of service that we’ve provided for years — Sorenson is not going to roll over and die.

Penny – I’m sorry about your experience. I think it’s probably because you did not contact technical support effectively, they do have several ways to get in touch with. Also if you had any issues you could have just contacted customer services or emailed vrscomments@sorenson.com and would have been taken care of – we take those things seriously.

I just predict things will be tough for the VRS industry as a whole. Sure some people may switch over to other VRS providers, and so forth, that is encouraged because sorenson wants people to be happy – that is just the #1 goal of the company. (also to make a profit, there’s no doubt about it, this is not a non-profit organization. Just remember that, nothing in life is free — seems something that deaf people have a issue understanding; I am deaf myself so yes I’m attacking other deaf people here)

Sorenson had to do what they did. Any for profit company would have done the same, it’s just business, nothing personal.

Good luck to everybody.

Cheerio.

Comment by Bob on August 5, 2010 at 3:06 pm

Yes, I can confirm that Sorenson is conducting a massive lay offs. As far the numbers go, I only can speak for the Technical Support Department – Twenty-Two people has been let go from that department, effectively approximately 1/3 of the workforce for that department has been let go.

I cannot confirm on how many were let go for various other department. Also rumors has it that executives and some others important management levels are also downsizing the number of employed and their paychecks.

I was one of the people that were let go. All I can do today is to fall forward on my face and at least I’ll still be moving forward.

It was good while it lasted.

Comment by Jonathan on August 5, 2010 at 4:07 pm

I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT MORE NEW COMPANIES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE DEAF GROUP THEMSELVES AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD ONES. SORENSENS INTERPRETER DEPENDS ON COUNT OF HOW MANY DEAF CALLS FOR INTERPRETING SERVICE ON VP SO THEY GET LESS AND LESS DEAF CALLING SORENSEN AND NOT MAKING AS MUCH AS BEFORE. SO THEY EITHER QUIT OR GET LAID OFF FOR NOT KEEPING THE QUOTA. DEAF USE SORENSEN MOSTLY TO CONTACT HEARING PEOPLE AND FCC DOES NOT COUNT THIS AS QUOTA. ONLY DEAF! ………………….. MY POINT IS FCC CUT RATE TIER MIN THAT FINE AND SORENSON CAN NOT CHANGE THE RATE TIER MIN .. IT IS FCC MAKE UP RATE ….. SORENSON SHOULD NOT LOAN ANY MONEY OR MESS UP OWN PLANNING WRONG TOO BAD SORENSON REALLY VERY SAD I DONT SUPPORT SORENSON IS VERY UGLY YUCK .. SORRY TO HEAR THAT ALSO I SUGGESTION MYVRS IS MORE TRUST THAN SORENSON BAD LUCK SORENSON .. !!! thank u myvrs ..

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 5, 2010 at 6:21 pm

I would like to point out that Sorenson is not the only company handing out layoffs and closing centers. I know for a fact that Purple has closed centers as recent as 3 weeks ago. (My source is an interpreter friend who was fired by Purple.)

Comment by Nikki on August 5, 2010 at 7:17 pm

You may have heard that Sorenson recently had to lay off some of its employees. This is the only layoff Sorenson has ever had. Some individuals and some of Sorenson’s competitors are posting very misleading information and numbers about this unfortunate layoff.

The FCC recently set a new interim rate for VRS. The rate was set lower than Sorenson’s costs to provide VRS. The FCC did this even though Sorenson shared detailed audited financial information with the FCC. Sorenson is the most efficient VRS company and the only one significantly impacted by this drastic decrease in the rate. Sorenson was forced to lay off employees because of the FCC’s low interim rate. Sorenson will continue to provide the best communication services possible now and in the future.

Additional information will be posted on the Sorenson website tomorrow so that you will have the real facts.

Comment by Sorenson on August 5, 2010 at 10:09 pm

The timing of Sorenson’s taking out a loan for like 1.5 billion left them vulnerable. I wonder why thay needed that kind of money….besides for their shareholders. They should be ok, though since the VRS business is not the only thing they are involved in.

Personally, I look forward to the day that all VRS companies are deaf owned….highly qualified, ethical, reputable, and able to deal with the current economic jitters, of course.

Tousi

Comment by Donald Tousignant on August 5, 2010 at 10:15 pm

As one of the interpreters that was let go yesterday (9pm to be exact), I have to say that I am disgusted and disheartened by this whole situation. A business that was advertised to be something so wonderful (and it was/is in many ways), ended up treating its employees with little to no respect. I understand that times are rough for all, but to be given no notice, no warning, and to be told that I have 15 minutes to get my stuff and leave is despicable.

Comment by Liz on August 5, 2010 at 11:45 pm

Don’t lay FCC as blame. Blame it to yourself Sorenson! You spend on luxury stuff such as fancy meals, unnecessary retreats, Pat’s extremely salary, stockholders, etc.. How this company run the business are very filthy!! I felt for the people who lost their jobs not the company itself! Im very proud to say that I QUIT use your serive long time and started using the deaf owned VRS companies! They are much better and more friendlier! How SAD!

Comment by Phoebe on August 5, 2010 at 11:52 pm

As expected Sorenson VRS
laid off 20% of their employees that means you may have waiting time
are longer, no possible chance to get any deaf installers, and they need
to pay off their $1.5 billions in debt or maybe some more… I knew
this from start of the scare tactics…. SHAME ON SORENSON !

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 6, 2010 at 12:34 am

I cringe at the thought of deaf-owned/operated VRS services — Many of them have started up sure, but many of them have failed.. Interestingly enough, the majority of the relatively “successful” VRS companies are *gasp* hearing-run, sorry to say.

Liz- I am sorry, but you should consider yourself lucky; you had 15 minutes to clear your stuff out – Many companies would have done it for you and mailed your belongings to you or have told you to pick it up somewhere.

SORENSONDEATH – You are correct, as for the bad timing for the loans, yeah oh well. nothing can be done about that. Otherwise, I think you are being a bit biased here, as many of us may be getting wrong information and there’s not much I can do about that as the deaf community has a terrible tendency to do that.

Jonathan – It was a pleasure working with you.

Sorenson communications does not have any stockholders – this company is privately held, no stocks to speak of.

Purple, Viable, snap, etc blah blah certainly have their uh “rough spots” and have laid off PLENTY of people, mislead people PLENTY of times, gave out erroneous information more times than I can count with my fingers on my hands, and feet as well.

I’m sorry if you have a difficult time understanding that sorenson is quite a large company and provide a unique service – So do other VRS companies but face the reality as much as you don’t like it, if sorenson fails, it’s more than likely the whole VRS industry may implode because of the flood of people who try to switch to other providers who won’t be able to handle it at all — hundreds of thousands of people.

So you should be a bit nicer to the company who’s going through a hard time right now, as well with thousands of others in this economy regardless. It’s not like sorenson is the only one going through this process anyways — just realize this.

Comment by Bob on August 6, 2010 at 1:25 am

The Fairfax, VA center has been closed as of the 6pm meeting tonight.

Comment by Northern VA Terp on August 6, 2010 at 1:28 am

Jason —

WOW!

What a bunch of garbage coming from you I’m sorry to say.

1) What video?
2) Yes this is true – There are new products, this is where money went, R&D, simple.
3) Its entirely true, not what you said, mind you.
4) Sorenson has always given correct financial information, NEVER tried to cheat the FCC despite what other people in other companies did.
5) hmm hmm. If sorenson got what they wanted, they would still have the 6.xx rate not the 5.xx rate which was announced if occurred, changed would have been made it’s not like sorenson was hiding from this fact – it has been announced.

Again, get your facts straight, and stop listening to people blathering on about things and rumors/facts distort when they are passed on and on. Is all I have to say.

Comment by Bob on August 6, 2010 at 1:33 am

This IS a FACTS!! How can we feel for Sorenson what they did behind our backs (customers).. They are watching your heartbeats.. if you aren’t using their service, they will send their trainer to stop by and find out why you aren’t using their service (hsi down, don’t know how to use vrs-need more training, vp not working, go on), they are monitoring your heartbeats ALL THE TIME!! I was one of the consumers! When one of trainers came by and asked me why I didn’t use their service, I was simply said I was on vacation. WOW!!! What a nosy! ATT or Verion don’t come by and ask you why you aren’t using their service if you simply didn’t use their service! The trainer left a paper at my office where the vp was at and the paper stated that “Phoebe have no heartbeats! Please go and visit this consumer and find out why!” I was beyond disgusted when this trainer came by and learned this issue. They , Sorenson, willing spend the $$$$ just to send the trainers to customers to check on them why they aren’t using their service WHAT A WASTE TIME AND MONEY! Why cant they focus on customers who need REAL service such as replace broken vp or routers or whatever! Many of them have been waiting for weeks and months! Thats ridiculously!! Thats when I lost my inte5rest using their service! AGain SAD!

Comment by Phoebe on August 6, 2010 at 3:00 am

As for the layoffs by Sorenson, I fully BLAME Sorenson for that because Sorenson has tried to convince FCC to allow their investors bill of $130 MILLION dollars a year to be part of the allowed costs and FCC has said NO…

If you do not realize the impact of $130 MILLION dollars, Let me put in this way 2.1 million minutes of VRS calls every MONTH goes to investors ALONE before any other expenses. That is almost 1/4 of Sorenson’s estimated 8 million minutes a month going to investors alone…..

Sorenson do not have any rights to blame FCC when they took out loans to make the owners even richer back in January, $180 million dollars cash just for the Owners of Sorenson was borrowed and Sorensonvrs is stuck paying the bill. In other words, Sorenson Gambled back in January and it is coming back to BITE Sorenson major time!

It is Sorenson’s own fault for gambling and paying their owners HUGE dividends!

Comment by jon on August 6, 2010 at 3:03 am

Truth is Sorenson is a dirty business, here one big example, this business went to a vendor business that serve people who are has disabiltiies challenges. Name of that company is STEP Agency Inc located in Ca. There was an agreement between executive director who is Hearing at STEP Inc and Sorenson business, they will provide VRS service through their VP to the consumers who were Deaf and has disabilties challenges. They agreed to installed the VP 200 in this consumer’s home, in all of the hearing supervsior’s office and SORENSON PAID for these consumers’s internet services for a WHOLE YEAR in return use their VRS SERVICE! Sorenson went to an agency that had no clue what they were doing, assuming they were or wanting help the consumer who they serving, but instead their main purpose was to get them to use VRS mintues and how they do that BY USING MONEY to pay for their internet services. They also told them if do not use their VRS service then they will not pay for their internet services. During this process, few times some of the consumer have decided to try different VRS product, one the employee from Sorenson showed up at the cosnumer home and ask why he was not using the service. IT was explain to that consumer, if they choose to use other VRS servcie, it will lead Sorenson not paying for the internet service.

So please do not tell me Sorenson is a clean company, so my response to person who said ( stop and smell the roses) my question to you have you really smelt Sorenson’s roses? If you did then you will certainly be in the same boat what am feeling.

Bottom line is this, FCC ruling has an impact on every VRS agency, trust me, six months from now and way things are going SORENSON will rule and that is a bad idea when you dealing with those type of people! I already saw this coming, when Sorenson proposed their new rate, clearly that was smart move on their part, by doing that it gonna cause serious ripple effect on every VRS agency that is left. Sorensen knew FCC ruling was gonna happen, while that ruling was happening they propose to cut their rate compare to other VRS. So what that mean, other VRS will be trapped be force to down size their VRS company, or shut down. This will clearly lead to Sorenson being only VRS.

SHAME ON SORENSON!!!

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 6, 2010 at 3:15 am

Bob-

I communicated with tech men effectively. It is just that they did and do not know their stuff. I had to use my friend to call them to explain in ASL for me and still they didn’t “get it”. I explained that DSL was down and I used pin to restart dsl and router. I needed help to reset my router. I told them trillion times that my IP Address setting was ALL BLANK. They kept saying that something was wrong with the plug and might needed new one. Darn cute! I put new plug…still nothing improved so I gave up talking with them…really dumbo tech! I e-mailed local tech man and he wanted to help—strictly on volunteer basis and solved problem in minutes. He said I was correct…it was THE router. He went to router…and saved them on file in case I have problem again in the future. I will depend on him…he is gifted and know his stuff. Believe me! As for lazy CODA interpreters…Yes I should have reported but been caught up with other things. Next time I will try to do that. Again, I explained first grade level to tech men and they didn’t get it like in the past. Always. Thanks for taking your time to reply my comment, though. I appreciate it.

Oh one more when I had VP for the very first time few years ago…the VP got disconnected trillion times for weeks and tech men were frustrated and were not able to solve problem until I met this local tech guy (same guy) guess what? he solved in minutes…yes in minutes. He said for my DSL…the program has to be swtiched to “bridge” and when he did that for me…no more connection. Serious he needs to be promoted to Senior tech man or manager. He is an A plus!

Comment by Penny on August 6, 2010 at 3:19 am

I mean no more problem with disconnection. Thanks.

Comment by Penny on August 6, 2010 at 3:22 am

Bob, very well stated. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

I am a VRS interpreter, I’ve been in this field for many years, the last 6 working within VRS. I started out at a “deaf owned” company. Wanna know how much time they gave us before cutting our hours to nothing? One night. My schedule for the following week went from 20 hours to 3. They cut a lot of their interpreters and gave little to no notice. I enjoy what I do, I enjoy serving my consumers, both deaf and hearing. It pains me to see some of these comments on here. I work hard at this job, I am nationally certified, friendly, and try to do my best at providing the best customer service that I can. I’m not the only one, I share this responsibility with my coworkers. We all hate hearing that our fellow colleagues are being laid off. This obviously isn’t what any of us want.

Sorenson does not have a monopoly on this market. Consumers continue to make the choice in who they want as their service providers. If you choose not to use Sorenson, so be it. Just try to remember, we are actual human beings in these cubes. We have families that depend on this income as much as those working at ZVRS or Purple. Stop with the venom. Its not healthy for anyone.

Comment by Brooke on August 6, 2010 at 3:43 am

This is a very rough time for so many. It is never easy to loose a job even when you have notice. For layoffs, no company gives notice. The fact is when people get notice of a mass layoff, they start destroying things – deleting computer files, taking stuff from the office supplies or even deliberately sabotaging the business. As harsh as it is, it is life. If you get laid off, you don’t get notice and you get escorted out of the building typically within minutes.

No company WANTS to lay off people. It hurts morale even for those that are left. It trashed productivity for months. But sometimes that is what needs to happen to survive.

Of course hind site is 20/20. I’m sure the Purple wishes it could go back not not bill for international to international calls – then they wouldn’t be so indebt to the FCC… perhaps they wish they were run more like Sorenson. At least then, they would have made a profit at least once since they opened. As it is, they have never made a profit.

The whole industry is suffering and the fact that some people are surprised that Sorenson had to make cute because their rate was cut so much is shocking to me. Get over it people – when your income is cut, you have to make cuts to how you live.

As far as secretary staff at Sorenson – I think you must be smoking something because there are fewer than a handful of administrative assistants for thousands of people. (count the fingers on your hand… that is less than 5 secretaries for thousands of people).

Comment by Be Fair on August 6, 2010 at 3:59 am

As for the layoffs by Sorenson, I fully BLAME Sorenson for that because Sorenson has tried to convince FCC to allow their investors bill of $130 MILLION dollars a year to be part of the allowed costs and FCC has said NO…

If you do not realize the impact of $130 MILLION dollars, Let me put in this way 2.1 million minutes of VRS calls every MONTH goes to investors ALONE before any other expenses. That is almost 1/4 of Sorenson’s estimated 8 million minutes a month going to investors alone…..

Sorenson do not have any rights to blame FCC when they took out loans to make the owners even richer back in January, $180 million dollars cash just for the Owners of Sorenson was borrowed and Sorensonvrs is stuck paying the bill. In other words, Sorenson Gambled back in January and it is coming back to BITE Sorenson major time! That is why others are blaming Sorenson’s financial practices.

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 6, 2010 at 7:06 am

Hello to all! This is a tuogh economic time for everyone involved. I am a community and VRS interpreter that is CODA and NIC certified. Let me say again CODA and proud of it. Community work and VRS have given me the opportunity to work with people I enjoy the most. It really saddens me that people’s opinions are so negative. Interpreters work hard to the best of their ability to provide a service regardless if they are CODA, certified or not. Everyone has to start somewhere. For the lady who commented on CODA, whatever! You have no proof and throwing around insults are just childish. Lets get back to the issues and quit bashing interpreters and tech support. Several bad experiences with interpreters or tech support does not reflect them all!

Bottom line, Sorenson VRS gave millions of deaf people free, again I say FREE VPs to use whether you use Sorenson, Purple, or many other VRS companies using “SORENSON VPs”. How cool is that? Do hearing people get their cellphones, home phones free, no! People pay for their equipment, their monthly fees and charges. The FCC pays for deaf people’s VP long distance calls to companies, family and friends. How cool is that?

Sorenson is a large company just like any other. They have to make moeny to keep providing a service. Sorenson will survive and scale back in order to succeed. It is so upsetting to know that many interpreters and staff are laid off in this tough time. I am sure it was a tough decision for Sorenson. They have been so generous to all of us. I pray for those who were laid off, that they are able to land on their feet and continue to do what they do best. Lots of Luck and we are all in this together!

By the way, thank you to those who are providing information on whats happening out there with the other centers. Many of us are still in the dark on what is happening. I am still interested in seeing the Sorenson official announcement…UNTIL then! Good luck to us all!

Comment by Surprised on August 6, 2010 at 12:04 pm

Bob & Be Fair and everyone else,

Here are the facts:

1. Sorenson has a deeply debt laden structure. Publicly available information indicates that Sorenson has been operating on the premise that they will make enough money (in the hundreds of millions of dollars) to pay back investors. The FCC has publicly acknowledged that Sorenson’s disclosure and request for a stay is MOOT (yes it was in caps in the FCC filing)…AFTER they reviewed all of the documentation provided by Sorenson.

This is not debatable, in my humble opinion.

2. Sorenson is not the only company that has a deeply debt laden structure. Purple does as well and the chips are falling over there too. VI’s at purple are sick of processing conference calls so the “legit calling” structure of Purple is compromised as well. and all of purples products have been 7′s at best (on a scale of 1-10).

3. Sorenson went public right after the Tier rates were announced scaring the bejesus out of people telling them VRS will go away! This is unbelievably and by far the most despicable of all sorenson tactics to keep a stronghold on the market share. You cannot bully the government. This also turned off hundreds if not thousands of current consumers. way to go.

4. Viable laid off 90% of its workforce in 2009 and left employees out 2 or 3 paychecks that they were owed. So basically employees there got screwed in the front and in the back at the same time. All the while, other VRS companies refuse to hire Viable employees even those that had no idea about the fraud. Viable hurt its employees in more ways than just financially. The effects are still being felt by former and current employees. There is a class action lawsuit pending and John Yeh and other indicted individuals are out vacationing in Hilton Head and Las Vegas while employees wait for their money. Hows that for DIRTY?

Meanwhile, ZVRS/CSDVRS during their split with Sprint 2 or 3 years ago laid off a bunch of people and closed centers with no notice as well. They were also the pioneers of fake conference calls, where do you think Purple learned this stuff from????

And now here you are in 2010 and guess what, in 2011 the FCC is going to lower the rates again and then where will sorenson be? Be fair and Bob might be out of a job too and it will be almost impossible to find another job in the industry and what then will you think of the fairness of your company?

Basically, you are all wrong. And, deaf or hearing owned companies has NOTHING to do with this. Whether you can hear or not hear should not determine how well you can run a business in this volatile environment. Shame on you Bob for insinuating that deaf-owned companies are somehow inferior, this has NOTHING TO DO with hearing loss. The mention of that coming from a so-called deaf person is beyond insulting and internally oppressive.

It has been known for years that sorenson has been watching their consumers but thats what happens when you take FREE equipment and you sign waivers agreeing to this! What do you expect?! If you want to have total control over your own life, you have to PAY for it. This is America. If you don’t like it, move to canada. If you buy products, they are yours and no one can tell you what to do with it and no trainer is goin to show up at your door. these are the facts.

another fact is that those people who got laid off are goin to be angry and for the most part goin to feel disrespected. This is something that sorenson should have thought of while they were sponsoring all these events and pouring money into a VRSII program that really is pointless at this time in the industry and the economy. To me, its a waste of government money that can be better spent on developing new products. Your vp200 phone is at least 5 years old! For the biggest company with the most money, you sure have shoddy products still running on outdated h232 technology. All the other vrs companies are AHEAD of sorenson in the the technology game and unfortunately this is what happens when you cannot afford to spend money on R*D because you have too many other overhead expenses.

All the VRS companies are going to experience “roughness” this year but the bottom line is that they created this mess in the first place. All of you have been fraudulent at one point or another and all of you have been sleeping in a bed of luxury. Unfortunately, the FCC is angry about the misuse of public money and they are goin to hurt you in the process of this change. such is life.

One more thing to mention, Sorenson built the company on 17 dollars a minute. Start ups today have to build companies on 6 dollars a minute giving sorenson the surefire edge it could have had if it had been managed better. Too bad.

These are the facts. simply put.

-VeroVernacular

Comment by Veronica Vernacular on August 6, 2010 at 3:28 pm

I was laid off when the NH Center closed – with 20 minutes notice – on Wednesday, August 4. Having worked for SVRS for the past two years after 28 years in the field of interpreting, I can say these things in earnest: I loved the work; I loved the ability for technology to do what I so deeply believed in when I entered this field — allow access to communication; I loved my colleagues; I loved the VRS users; I loved the challenge and recognized the improvement in my own professional skills and abilities that working in a VRS environment brought .

That said, I am disheartened, saddened and – frankly – disgusted by the facts (not the conjecture/projections/rumors that have been posted here/elsewhere) that are slowly unfurling about Sorenson’s corporate ‘doings’. Folks should seek out and read the FCC’s Order Denying Stay Motion (dated, by the way, July 9, 2010) in its entirety. The document is only eight pages long; the facts it contains are clear. I will not highlight those facts here; I encourage you all to read it.

If Sorenson had restructured/”belt-tightened” in a different way in ANTICIPATION of what they knew was inevitable, no jobs would have been lost. I lament the fact that I and 34 other employees in Concord lost jobs – most tragically our Center Manager, whose work with Sorenson spanned over 5 years as both a VI and a manager yet there was no other place for her in the company. I am deeply saddened for the other Sorenson employees who lost their jobs under such cold, unfeeling “business” conditions, despite their outstanding work ethic, customer service efforts, and acknowledged skills (our Center was #1 in the country for stats a few weeks back … go figure… ).

And, yes, I am angry.
Review the facts – the true facts – and it is impossible not to be.

I wish all those who lost their jobs – and those who have kept them and are working in an environment that is unstable with regard to their future employment and surely, to a great extent, tainted by the events of the last week – the very best of luck in securing meaningful, gainful employment in the most expeditious fashion.

And to our Center Manager, Mary, know that you are thought of with respect, admiration, and great affection for your myriad efforts to make our Center the best — in every way.

Comment by Teri on August 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm

Brooke,

I love what you said, and as a VI with Sorenson for 6 years have to say AMEN!

Comment by VI on August 6, 2010 at 4:08 pm

The FCC rate change had nothing whatsoever to do with Sorenson’s layoffs. The reason beyond the changes that Sorenson is incurring stem from rampant greed on the part of this company. They’ve incurred millions of dollars of debt while in the pursuit of acquiring millions of dollars for profit. This is not a company that serves D/deaf. It is a company that has corrupted the field of interpreting irrecoverably. The lowest possible wages are paid to the interpreters and working conditions assure wear-and-tear bodily injuries that cannot be covered under worker’s comp, as full-time employment opportunities are limited. Sorenson has been on the cutting edge of flagrant violation of numerous state and federal laws in its treatment of its interpreters (ex: encouraging part time interpreters to work 40.0 hours weeks when the company needed extra hands on the phones; then chastising us for doing so because it violated federal law. Really? Gee. Shouldn’t they have known that before they approved and encouraged it?).

Frankly, I’m surprised that the FCC has allowed Sorenson Communications to continue in any vein whatsoever since the first date of sale of the company to a holding/investment company. VRS is supposed to be a service; not a profit-maker.

Let them eat cake.

Gwen

Comment by gwen mahi on August 6, 2010 at 5:10 pm

There have been some comments related to Sorenson’s long-term debt. Some people think that Sorenson Communications’ long-term debt is the reason we had to lay off employees. The truth is that interest on debt is one of our many expenses. To say that a single expense item was the sole cause of the layoffs is inaccurate, uninformed and very misleading. That would be like saying “Sorenson’s R&D costs or the cost of giving away videophones and installing/servicing them all for free or investments in interpreter training and development is the reason they had to lay off employees”. People are making too much out of this debt issue. Even with Sorenson’s debt and interest payments we are still the most efficiently run and lowest cost provider of VRS in the industry. The interim rate of $5.07 set by the FCC is too low and is below Sorenson’s actual operating costs to provide VRS. That is the issue, not the capital structure of Sorenson.

Comment by Sorenson on August 6, 2010 at 9:22 pm

There are questions about why other providers are not experiencing the same issues that Sorenson is facing due to the interim rate. The only tier that experienced a drastic reduction (-19%) is Tier 3. Tier 3 is the tier where Sorenson does nearly all of its business. The rates in the lower tiers were reduced by only by a small percentage (-7% in Tier 1 and -3% in Tier 2). Sorenson is the only provider that does most of their business in the highest tier. The smaller reductions to the lower tiers means that the revenue for all other VRS providers is reduced between 3-7% while the main portion of Sorenson’s revenue was reduced by 19%.

Comment by Sorenson on August 6, 2010 at 9:26 pm

Hi all….wonder if Sorenson closed its centers in Canada or if they only lay off people in America??

Comment by Concerened on August 6, 2010 at 9:41 pm

Everyone,

If you are a current or former employee of Sorenson and have a story to share about the internal corruption, please contact me at commerson@gmail.com.

My vlogs can be found at http://RC.blip.tv/

In Solidarity,
RC

Comment by Ryan Commerson on August 6, 2010 at 9:54 pm

I was informed that the upper management include CEO at Sorenson did not get their salary cutting. Shame on greedy of the upper management!

Comment by EarlS on August 6, 2010 at 10:25 pm

It is most unfortunate that Sorenson was forced by the FCC to lay off employees. I do not blame Sorenson as they have consistently and on daily basis, fought with FCC. They’ve opened up their fiancial data to FCC to help them understand what are the necessary rate to help Sorenson survive and continue to provide superb services to the deaf community, much like the other VRS Providers as well.

The one thing you need to understand is that Sorenson is such a large company and well run, making Sorenson the most efficient VRS company. Therefore, logic dictates that it is in the FCC’s best interest to work with Sorenson to save ratepayer money, which translates to Tier III rate. HOWEVER, at this present time, the course of action adopted by FCC has forced Sorenson to lay off employees and restructure their operations, which means that Sorenson could lose some customers to other VRS Provider. This is okay but here lies the problem…

The problem is that FCC most likely made a horrible mistake by paying more as there are no other VRS Providers that are Tier III, meaning they’re either Tier I or II. Therefore, these Tier I and II VRS Providers are billing FCC for more money that forces FCC to pay MORE for these services, which they could have pay LESS if Sorenson didn’t suffer a drastic cut in Tier III rate. If FCC goal was to save ratepayer money and be an efficient steward of the TRS funds, they are FAILING in this role.

Moreover, FCC still has FAILED to explain why Tier I and II didn’t suffer more than a dollar cut in their rate while Tier III suffered an dollar and 10 cent rate cut. This appears as a intentional attack on Sorenson by FCC as Sorenson is the only known Tier III provider.

Therefore, think about how FCC is “saving money” and being efficient with the TRS funds. Additionally, why is only Sorenson suffering the drastic cut in rate, when others VRS Providers don’t have to suffer that drastic cut in their respective tier? Admittedly, FCC has some valid points but in this case, the points they make are far too few to the points that Sorenson makes.

Lastly, do not cite the debt that Sorenson has accumulated or how much they paid their investors and such. This is a business for profit and Sorenson became the leading VRS Provider because of these business decision they made. Hence, none of you have the knowledge nor the understanding about Sorenson’s finacial structure or debt load. Even FCC doesn’t state that they have the full knowledge of their finacial structure as they cited Debtwire as their source about Sorenson’s debt.

Just think about what FCC should be doing and what their role are supposed to be. They are failing in every aspect of their role to protect the VRS Industry.

Comment by Sargeras on August 7, 2010 at 11:34 am

I’ve seen so much vitriol against Sorenson since the beginning of this issue. And so much of it is based on rumor, speculation and resentment of the company for various personal reasons. But the majority of VRS users still prefer Sorenson over other providers and that may be the real frustration of the Sorenson-bashers.
I found the comment above, “FCC rate change had nothing whatsoever to do with Sorenson’s layoffs” completely separated from basic understanding of economic reality, like so many others. Sorenson VRS has one source of income–conversation minutes. Everything else they pay people to do must support that product. If it doesn’t it isn’t included in the calculations by the FCC, Effective July 1 the value of their product dropped by 19%. That price drop was determined by another body that has no interest in company other than to reimburse them for the billed minutes. Going forward the company must put in place a plan to continue its business on 80% of the revenue it earned previously. But it still has to follow all the same rules. 4 or 5% decrease can be absorbed usually. 20%? Something must be cut. Wages are always the largest expenditure of any company. Everything else is overhead. FCC believes that Sorenson’s costs/per minute are the least of all the companies. But are they that much less? Each conversation minute requires a minute of interpreting by a person. Those people don’t cost less after the 500000th minute. So the idea is to maintain the same number of people processing calls, but reduce the overhead by 20%. Or even 10%. How does a company do that? Reducing a VPs salary by 10 or 15%? Ok, there’s maybe 0.1% of a reduction. Multiply that by the number of executives, now you’re up to 1% maybe. Where does the rest come from? My point is that any reduction that will offset that large a revenue reduction will be painful. For the people who are laid off and for the ones that are left. The people who lost their jobs this week will probably doubt that and who would blame them?

Comment by Betty Boop on August 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm

Teri, bravo for your comments and insight. I hope everyone reads the FCC document.
And I REALLY hope that no one is taken in by Sorenson’s corporate party line BS.
All they’ve been doing for the past few days is playing the blame game in their responses to everyone’s comments, spewing out the same garbage over and over again: it’s all the
FCC’s fault, it they hadn’t cut the rates, blah blah blah. As I’ve posted at other sites, Sorenson is a multi-million dollar corporation run by a few greedy bigwigs whose TOP motive in everything is to continue to be a multi-million dollar corporation! For employees, current and recently terminated both, to think they cared one iota about us is clearly ludicrous – we were, and some still are, the worker bees in their hive! And SVRS customers, if you think they care about you, think again – to continue with the bee/hive analogy, you’re all just a huge bunch of flowers whose pollen (calls and minutes) the hive expects the worker bees to collect and process as fast as possible!! Because the more calls there are means the more minutes that are generated which means lots and lots of money for the hive! Even with the FCC’s rate cuts – lots and LOTS of MONEY!

Comment by Karen on August 7, 2010 at 4:34 pm

@ Sargeras,

In your words, is it okay to IGNORE what FCC guidelines are and do whatever you want?

That is exactly what Sorenson did! PERIOD!

FCC has never allowed expenses of certain items and Sorenson has BEEN TRYING to FORCE FCC to allow these expenses.

1) Equipment distribution… FCC has not allowed expenses for those because it allows the company to entice their customers into false loyalty just like those VP200 products!

2) Borrowing money to PAY owners dividends? if the company is so well run why cant they pay profits to the owners directly instead of BORROWING money…. theres something wrong with this.. Sorenson is making millions of dollars in the company and yet they borrow money to help owners getting richer (over $400 million dollars in the past few short years) FCC has ruled against that…

list goes on and on and on! so you better do your homework before protecting Sorenson… unless you prefer to be led by a carrot and be blind to everything else. Be my guest and support Sorenson…

Comment by USFJon on August 7, 2010 at 9:27 pm

I read those and say.. WOW…

Bitter and Angry and mix…

You see the problem here . . . The upper management have agreed something that I and my team doesn’t know the WHOLE PAGE.

The boss doesn’t know the whole page and management knows… I have trouble to believe the manager claim that now aware that Sorenson would cut several technical support and I was fall shock by bomb shell.

I have worked for more than 4 years and proud to service to help you guy in order the videophone back working. I know the customer I have assist have no issue with me, I hope that I service and assist them well.

What I see out there and all VRS…

I can say is profit but keep that mind that VRS begin 20 dollar per minutes while Sorenson just ‘boom’ expanding the service while other VRS doesn’t boom at begin to grow the service but same size and more profit themselves while Sorenson doesn’t do that time.

When the minutes rate become VRS top important of make money and they expect our productivity to increase and work hard to make the management happier. I try to met your exception and the same time management exception. I do not know why are they exception on us and while they make money?

I enjoy to work with customer and help out… It is what I sore missed about that job and meet person over the phone and made some friend that I don’t normally do when I do get repeat customer which as their ‘favorite’ technical support of what number such as 2001 or 3001 or 1001… Now I got laid off and didn’t chance to tell customer how much I enjoy work with you guy…

Just keep that mind… Sorenson did try but for some reason I felt they lied… they say.. we are doing okay and do some adjustment. It just management isn’t done good job and not wise choice…

At begin, technical support done all the work with customer service or educate guide until expand new dept that technical no longer handle and focus to help customer to get videophone work as you may notice changed as fast response or well assist but the time matter change back into old time we may stuck with technical support.

Just keep that mind…

Technical support do their best

It the management fault…

Comment by ex-TS on August 8, 2010 at 4:07 am

hey @Sargeras FCC not fault to make sorenson layoff it was sorenson did it make layoff u make big mistake FCC nothing do with layoff it sorenson fault not FCC and sorenson learn lesson must follow the rule with rate tier min too bad sorenson and i keep on sent to FCC please stay on rate do not change rate period .. i support FCC not sorenson bossy over FCC and sorenson is suck mouth also it sorenson problem with debit money need to stop greedy there Zvrs or snapvrs or covno or any kind of compay did not greedy it was sorenson period .. what u make sense sorenson blame FCC wrong it blame sorenson not FCC and i am proud of FCC with that start rate tier min sorenson has to learn lesson .. DO NOT GREEDY EVER AGAIN …

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 9, 2010 at 9:32 am

Interesting thread. To say that the FCC “forced” Sorenson to threaten the financial security of its loyal employees is ridiculous. This is big business. Sorenson made some terrible business decisions and now has to pay for them. Let’s be clear, it is not the FCC that is forcing Sorenson to hurt its workers. As many have pointed out, there are a number of ways that Sorenson could have achieved cost-cutting without these closures. It is the management/owners decision that their profits are more important than some people’s livelihood. They are the ones that bet on the golden goose continuing to lay golden eggs. They are the ones responsible for the rapacious expansion over the past few years that diluted quality as it increased profitablility. They are the ones hurting their workers now, not the FCC.

When Sorenson plays hardball, everyone shrugs and says, “It’s big business.” Well, now the FCC is playing hardball, too. It is big business. Sorenson’s management/owners made some very big bets and played with a lot of people’s lives. That those bets don’t look so good now is not the FCC’s fault. Sorenson has always known what is and is not allowable in terms of reimbursable expenses. They made a business decision to roll the dice. Their employees are now paying the price for management’s short-sightedness.

Comment by Larry Clark on August 9, 2010 at 12:41 pm

The FCC FORCES Sorenson to lay off employees!!! When will this treachery end?

First the FCC forces Sorenson to accept reimbursements that are 40% higher than the reimbursable costs. Then it forces management to buy the company! Then FCC forces Sorenson to refuse an audit while expanding recklessly until there are over 100 centers. Next it forces Sorenson to measure the work of interpreters not by quality, but by quantity, and pay production bonuses only to management. Then it forces Sorenson to restrict wages, impose ridiculous working conditions on interpreters and take out huge bond-debt to pay off investors to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Now it has forced Sorenson to lay people off! When will this end? This is so unfair to management!

Where is that YouTube Brittany Spears fan now? We could use her screaming and sobbing to Just. Leave. Sorenson. Aloooooooone!!!!

Comment by rapscallion on August 9, 2010 at 6:44 pm

please read this …….. Sorenson had lost the APPEAL in court from Suing FCC relate to the rate. Which show FCC start to realize the FACTS here and know that Sorenson is trying everything to get FCC go their way and cover their DEBT. We do not tolerate that type of business in our community!! This is victory for us and SLAP IN THE FACE for …Sorenson. Sorenson need to wake up and realize what they are getting themselves into! All we want Sorenson to do is walk out of closet and admit that they made HUGE mistake and work with other VRS company to make thing more healthy for everyone so we have more choice in our service!!………….. click that link !! —–> http://www.drzvrs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sorenson-denial-by-10th-circuit.pdf

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 9, 2010 at 11:10 pm

I am sorry to hear the short-sighted views that you have taken in viewing the struggles between the VRS Industry and FCC. You should also realize that Sorenson doesn’t stand alone in this struggle but other VRS Providers also have taken the same stance as Sorenson but they are not as loud as Sorenson is but you can recall the Convo video, demonstrating what would happen if FCC were to cut their rates. You can recall that Purple had to lay off people in response to the FCC rate and prepare for it. Sorenson simply waited to the very last minute, holding out hope that FCC would see the errors of its way and finally side with the VRS Companies to help them to continue their great efforts and supports to the Deaf Community in providing these vital services.

Most unfortunate, FCC underwent a staff change this recent year due to the Obama administration, thus causing the same havoc that happened 3 and half years ago but these questions that these new staff are asking now are the same as the questions that were asked and answered 3 and half years ago. It has become extremely apparent that most of you have forgotten that this is a repeat of what has already come to passed and yet come to pass again. Must we suffer this endless cycle of staff changes and endure their constant changes to the VRS Industry simply because the new staff chose to ignore the lessons learned by previous staff and passed to the new staff?

Sorenson was forced by FCC to lay off the employees because right now, the interim rate is only for a year and it is not even certain if the rate will stay the same, increase, or decrease. VRS Providers are facing uncertainty right now in the light of the inquries being made by the new staff of FCC. We’re on the edge, wondering if FCC will go back to a 3 year plan with a stable rate so that VRS Providers can create and maintain a 3 year plan since they can rely on that rate for 3 years. This is why VRS Providers grew so much in the last 3 years because of that stability that was brought to the VRS Industry field by the previous FCC staff. They understood how it work after they did an inquiry and made agreement with VRS Providers but now as I mentioned before, this is happening again and seems to be on a path where this will always repeat.

Sorenson will always have investors and will always make business decisions that will seem questionable to everyone but I, for one, chose to trust Sorenson because they have always provided a great and invaluable services to the majority of the deaf community. They even do this out of their own pockets by providing free videophones, free service calls, and such. Please tell me when was the last time you paid a cent to Sorenson….

Comment by Sargeras on August 10, 2010 at 2:40 pm

as an interpreter that was let go recently by the exceedingly greedy company SORENSON VIDEO RELAY SERVICE, here are my thoughts:

- i am glad to be out of sorenson! they were not helping my desire to continue as an interpreter for the deaf and were not treating me as a professional with advanced degrees and certification.

-i have been a professional interpreter for over 10 years and found the environment at sorenson more like a factory than a professional service. we were timed at how long we were in bathroom, not given breaks when we wanted them or needed them. sorry if we dont smile when we interpret but GUESS WHAT? MY HANDS HURT VERY BADLY AND I HAVE TO GET FINISHED WITH THE CALL or I WILL LOSE THE JOB. SAD REALITY. NO HUMANITY AND NO TIME FOR NICETIES WITH DEAF CALLERS. I AM NOT A MACHINE!

-as every quarter passed, compensation was cut and perks were taken away that were part of the reason we left our other jobs to work there. things like 401K match, education reimbursement, etc etc. of all the employees at SVRS we were the ones that make the service viable. no interpreters and no service but they ALWAYS made interpreters feel like cheap replaceable factory hands. Of course management always gets flown to retreats so they can figure out more ways to screw interpreters and make more $$ for the company. YUCK.

- Sorenson doesn’t really care about quality of interpreters! while they measure every thing including how fast you hang up on deaf callers, NEVER NEVER in 4 years of working, I WAS NEVER ONCE EVALUATED AT QUALITY OF MY INTERPRETING WORK. as someone who has many deaf friends, i was disgusted by this lack of care about quality and shudder to think what the NEW HIRES WHO ARE NOT CERTIFIED will do to the quality of interpreting.

-YES SORENSON LOVES TO HIRE UNCERTIFIED because they are cheaper and like puppies will do anything that management tells them.

like I said, I’m glad to be rid of the bad experience of working for Sorenson. The only good thing I can say about the management there is….NO I CANNOT SAY ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THEM. From beginning to end they are without class and treated interpreters without dignity.

Good riddance I say!

Comment by relievedAndDisgusted on August 10, 2010 at 3:56 pm

Story about the Concord, NH Call Center was closed appear in the local newspaper up in Concord can be found here. Sorenson is suppose to give 60 day notice for layoff but they seem didn’t do it, thats the NH law….. our service!!.

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 10, 2010 at 9:18 pm

Sargeras,

Thanks for your perspective on this. Clearly we disagree, but I am not sorry to hear your views. Sorenson is a recipient of money held in the public trust– everyone who has telephone service pays into it. If this were really private business competing in a free and open market, it might be different, but that is not how this business works. The government’s job here is to make sure that compensation is fair. Last year Sorenson made over $500 million dollars from VRS. Over $200 million dollars in profit. The government has decided that $200 million dollars in profit is too much. I agree with them.

VRS is similar to a public service. It was never intended to be a source of huge windfall profits. Imagine for a moment what $200 million dollars could do for Deaf education, or training for medical and mental health interpreters. That’s where the money belongs, not in the pockets of a private company that cares nothing about interpreters, interpreting, or deaf people, other than how much money they can earn off of them.

Comment by Larry Clark on August 11, 2010 at 8:49 pm

Sargeras,

Thanks for your perspective on this. Clearly we disagree, but I am not sorry to hear your views. Sorenson is a recipient of money held in the public trust– everyone who has telephone service pays into it. If this were really private business competing in a free and open market, it might be different, but that is not how this business works. The government’s job here is to make sure that compensation is fair. Last year Sorenson made over $500 million dollars from VRS. Over $200 million dollars in profit. The government has decided that $200 million dollars in profit is too much. I agree with them.

VRS is similar to a public service. It was never intended to be a source of huge windfall profits. Imagine for a moment what $200 million dollars could do for Deaf education, or training for medical and mental health interpreters. That’s where the money belongs, not in the pockets of a private company that cares nothing about interpreters, interpreting, or deaf people, other than how much money they can earn off of them.

Comment by rapscallion on August 11, 2010 at 8:52 pm

I would just liket o say that I fully and completley agree with relieved and disgusted. I was not let go from Sorenson but quit for all of the reasons she/he mentioned in their post. They actually do treat interpreters like machines! and I too was never evaluated based on quality of interpretation. It breaks my heart to see the way this company treats it’s interpreters. People/companies can profit and at the same time offer quality service.
I wish you the best relieved and disgusted and hope that other interpreters come to their senses, stand up for themselves and go on to interpret in an environment that nurishes, encourages growth and values what we do.

Comment by Concerened on August 11, 2010 at 10:28 pm

I too work for Sorenson. What relieved and disgusted said is true. They count not only seconds but half seconds. They are a sweat shop. No joke. I have never worked at at place where they have no regard for employees. It’s about the $$. I know many who are hurt in our center. They make threats even for 1 second off. Just hapen just this week. Good Interpreters will leave the field because of injury or just plain sick of the abuse.

Comment by sad on August 12, 2010 at 4:23 am

Sorenson will survive …. Companies dont usually give you much notice when they gonna lay you off .. To keep you from stealing and damaging company stuff … I do agree with FCC 3 tier system. It is more fair that way in the long run…

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 12, 2010 at 1:48 pm

I am not worried about Sorenson surviving.

I am more worried about all the Deaf (and the Interps of course) surviving in this tough job market!

Comment by MooUT on August 12, 2010 at 8:48 pm

Spencer, I am sorry you lost your job but you are right there is waste. I myself have not been hit but I am looking for work just so I can get out of my call center. We have a problem with corparate abuse at our site. As soon as I find something else I freely leave. We have 3 leaving soon and Manegers have no clue that the cream of the crop are leaving. I would like to know if other sites other that Sorenson is this way. I would like to work for them if they have at least honor. I have been with Sorenson for a long while. I don’t know if this is corprate or just bad managers. we been in bad shape for 2 and a half years now.

Comment by sad on August 13, 2010 at 1:25 am

MooUt, Surviving will depend on the Deaf community and weather or not that Sorenson can hold on the their greatest asset. THE INTERPRETERS. Without the quality Interpreters they will not survive. I don’t think the deaf community will let it. They and the Interpreters have the power not Sorenson. Bussiness come and go. The Deaf Community is here to stay. I know I grew up in it. They will protect it at all cost. With or without Sorenson they are not the only game in town. The Deaf community has come along ways. And I am proud of them.

Comment by sad on August 13, 2010 at 1:44 am

Yes, it is very sad to see so many interpreters hurt by their misplaced faith in the integrity of the company they chose to work for. In the early days the comapany needed skilled interpreters to establish credibility for the company. Nowadays, sadly, those same interpreters are seeing their loyalty to the company repaid by betrayal and abandonment. I would like to think that interpreters would stand up to this abuse, but I know that at my call center alone there were 25-30 mortgages that depended on this income. And car payments and tuition bills, etc. Not so easy to stand up when you are tied down.

Comment by Larry Cl;ark on August 13, 2010 at 11:23 am

Sad,

I am not putting down the Deaf Community. Note that I said I was worried about the Interpreters, also. I know the Deaf can and will survive anything.

What I mean was surviving economically. I was just at a job fair , and all the companies told me they have NO openings. I have been going to these for over two years, and I always see the same Deaf friends whom tell me they have not gotten hired anywhere.
There are other VRS…. but can they absorb all these greatly talented and qualified Deaf people? Not to mention the Interpreters whom myself I consider precious.

I personally am friends with many Interpreters. What you tell me about corporate abuse is true so they tell me.

Comment by MooUT on August 13, 2010 at 1:11 pm

OH well It’s Sorenson are own fault because they are cheat to F.C.C. As F.C.C found out about them by their internet. The Sorenson need to be more careful and do right thing not to cheat. Hope They will working straight out their problems with F.C.C . Good Luck !

Comment by Teddybear on August 13, 2010 at 4:24 pm

MooUT, We did try to stand up for ourselves and make the center better. We even talked about going Union. Fear got in the way. They cut hours if you do anything at all. They target Interperes who they feel lead others to stand. Our cream of the crop are leaving. One is leaving next week and they don’t even know it. 2 more found other jobs. We just got a blast email form another VRS center looking for Interpreters not far from us. I feel bad mostly for the Deaf who got hit. Sorenson took advantage of the talents and then let them go. I don’t think that will go too well. You know reputation is everything. Sorenson may not be able to get that back. The Deaf community will feel used. Sorenson is still “HEARING” CO. They may go to a VRS who are more Deaf frienely. DEAF CO. they maybe more likley to be trusted more. Atlest in the talent arena. Bussiness part i don’t know but I am sure there are Deaf people out here who are bussiness savy.

Comment by sad on August 13, 2010 at 10:53 pm

Sad-
I believe you and I sympathize with you and the situation you and we are all in now.
They have lost my trust completely now.
I know- they get rid of those who try to stand up even if its just for standing up for yourself-
They did that to me.
Good luck and hope we read more on this blog.
I already know personally many Deaf looking for new VRS provider.

Comment by MooUT on August 14, 2010 at 12:54 am

MooUt, Yea, Interpreters and Deaf both alike. I am sure the Deaf community will look for other providers. Prior Deaf VRS employees of Sorenson will be hired by other VRS Co. They are key people with experence. The VRS Interpreters will follow because the call volume will drop. In the end it will be all good. This is a great time for the small deaf owned VRS centers to grow. YEA! They get the cream of the crop. What great opportunity to do that now.

Comment by sad on August 14, 2010 at 7:20 pm

did u not know that sorenson 75% interprters are not cerfitcted ! ..they lied to deaf community …HELL YES SAY.. NO VOTE SORENSON …

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 16, 2010 at 4:38 am

did u not know that sorenson 75% interprters are not cerfitcted !! … they lied to deaf community ..

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 16, 2010 at 2:14 pm

I read somewhere that myvrs.org is supposed to be “neutral”. It does not look that way as webmaster and author of this site is biased against Sorenson most of the time. Please remain neutral if you want to retain readers to your website. if I keep seeing biased opinion from the webmaster, I am not going to to visit this website anymore.

Comment by KJT on August 17, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Dear “sorensondeath”,

After reading this blog, I noticed that you have lot of angers in your body and mind against Sorenson Company. Even your name in this blog is “sorensondeath”. It is obviously to us that you are emotionally disturbed. Would you care to give us, readers, your background and your line of work if any. I am sure we all are curious about as to why you are so angry about Sorenson Company most of the time in this blog. Did you ever work for Sorenson? Do you work for other VRS competitor? Share your angers here, and it might do your soul real good if you relieve your angers. Then maybe you will calm down and go about your life doing something good for other people instead of websurfing on internet complaining about little minor things and spreading bad information just to make yourself emotionally satisfied day by day. We, readers, are interested in factual information, not non-factual information as you have kept spreading in this blog. Please do not waste our precious time wtih your continuous disturbing bashings here. We like our lives just fine. Thank you.

Comment by KJT on August 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm

KJT, Would you like to share your background?

Comment by sad on August 18, 2010 at 12:00 am

i was one of the employees that got laid off… was a VRS Trainer. After the deny of stay fro sorenson. I knew the laid-offs was coming, but didn’t expect so soon and right after the denial which surprised me. Now I am looking for another job. live another day, and now hitting food banks so i can feed my kids.

oh well, working for big corporation has a negative impact on how and when and polices to be paid. I remember few months ago, they lowered pay rates for us around the same time for first FCC hearing on the rates.

Comment by ex-sorenson empolyee on August 18, 2010 at 10:56 am

sad
August 18, 2010 at 12:00 am
KJT, Would you like to share your background?

________________________________________

Sure!

Born deaf, am a deaf person, will die a deaf corpse.
Graduated from CSDR.
Graduated from RIT with BS in Electrical Engineering Technology.
Worked in high-technology industries for more than 20 years.
I am working for a VRS company for 6.5 years.
100% for truth, fairness and balance.
100% for factual information.
100% against non-factual information.

Your turn.

Comment by KJT on August 18, 2010 at 1:10 pm

I find it hard to believe how many idiots are out there spreading gossip and trash about this situation. My advise for all, get your facts correct, so many of you believe the crap and un-truths on this site which is obvious because you are helping spread the incorrect information. Whether deaf or hearing it doesnt matter,….. being educated in the issues DOES matter. It is sad that it is so obvious who the disgruntled employees are who lost their jobs. It is a very very sad situation yes, but do you think you are the first and only ones to have lost a job? Seriously???? This bashing behavior is for children not adults and it saddens many of us that this type of behavior is going on. Shame on those who spread false information, MORE shame on those who believe everything they hear instead of investigating and learning the truths of the situation. Educate yourselves and stop the self pity……life happens and you are not the first ones to experience this ……..time to move on. I am not an employee nor an interpreter but I am educated in this issue and that is all I need to see what the truths are. Do the same would ya

Comment by tired of idiots on August 18, 2010 at 7:50 pm

tired of idiots, Can you share what you feel are not facts? I sure would like to know. I can only share what I experence as a VRS Interpreter in my own site. Right now our center is not doing so well. We have Interpreters making an exodus because Interpreters are not asked to come in to work. Silent layoff. We lost quite a few Interpreters. These Interpreters can’t even collect UI benifits.

Comment by sad on August 19, 2010 at 2:35 am

sorensondeath, How do you know what the % of the Interpreters who are Certified. I know that we have very good Interpreters in our site. Just to let you know most all are Certified. New Interpreters have time to become Certified. I hope that helps.

Comment by sad on August 19, 2010 at 2:45 am

KJT, Thanks, just want to know where you are comming from.

Comment by sad on August 19, 2010 at 2:55 am

Sad;

I was just wondering- are the difficulties you speak of at the call center where you work
the same at all call centers?
I had a thought that it would depend on management at the specific call center.

Comment by MooUT on August 20, 2010 at 1:58 pm

For what it’s worth, Sad’s sad account could be said about my former center as well. Many good interpreters burned out, chewed up, and spit out. Many, many “silent layoffs”. Management treating professional interpreters like ignorant children. Constantly playing infantile games like “dress up below the knees” and “weird word bingo” and “red light/green light” because they think that crap will anesthetize interpreters into submission. Too many mortgages and tuition bills taken on in happier times have interpreters feeling absolutely trapped. The only interpreters I know that are happy are the favorites, the ones who get most of their bids and who are only too happy to shill for the company and inform on their colleagues. Very sad days indeed for interpreters.

Comment by Larry Clark on August 21, 2010 at 12:26 am

MooUT, Good question about the effect of management. In my experience of working at two centers under three managers, I can say management makes a huge difference. My first manager was terrific. Great communicator, and very interpreter-focused. My next two managers were disasters. Keep in mind that where I worked, “managers” were simply interpreters put in charge of other interpreters, and “managing” meant enforcing obedience to arbitrary statistical norms that have everything to do with private profit and nothing to do with interpreting. I don’t know what, if any, training was given to these “managers”, but I can say that they were the worst bosses I ever had. Just as being a signer doesn’t make you an interpreter, neither does having been an interpreter make you a manager. Both of these managers were privately loathed and publicly sucked-up to, and neither had even the slightest bit of self-awareness about what they were doing. At the same time, I strongly suspect that this company has exactly the type of managers they want, interpreter-martinets who bully other interpreters into submission. We used to joke about how quickly VI’s transformed into bullies once they became managers. We called it “drinking the kool-aid.”

Of course, this does not hold true for all managers at all centers. I have heard that there are managers at other centers in this company that are respected and admired by their staffs. I don’t doubt this for a moment, but it just wasn’t the case where I worked, or in a number of other centers for this company that I have heard about.

Comment by Larry Clark on August 21, 2010 at 2:53 pm

Larry Clark:

What you say makes sense. I guess it all comes down to which center location you work at. Unfortunately we often really do not have a choice as to where or whom under we will work.

Comment by MooUT on August 22, 2010 at 3:35 pm

Larry Clark, You are very right about everything. We have games too sometimes I feel I am in grade school again. Our manger was one of the VI with no experence. I still work for Sorenson but I do have a job interview TMW wish me luck.

Comment by sad on August 23, 2010 at 5:13 pm

Hey, sad –

Best of luck in your interview. You know, lots of bad stuff has happened in VRS but I really do think that it has made us stronger and smarter about a lot of things. If nothing else, it certainly sharpened my interview skills.

As they say in Germany when wishing good fortune in performance “Toi, toi, toi!”

May your interview go just as you would have it. Or better.

LC

Comment by Larry Clark on August 23, 2010 at 11:48 pm

sad please have look at the video it true one i notic sorenson not full Certified and u can link website i believe that person speak up ……Perspective on Stop NON-certified VRS Now ………http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaLuSdpUGaU&feature=player_embedded

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 24, 2010 at 4:10 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaLuSdpUGaU&feature=player_embedded

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 24, 2010 at 5:07 pm

sorenson buy cheaper interperter with no Certified u need to watch this video i believe sorenson selfish money to pay cheaper interperter .. think twice i dont believe sorenson and i did use vp200 when pop show SVRS.. i ask relay service do u have Certified say no then fuck i hung up try use other interperter make sure ask interperter have Certified say yes then i stay on relay servce most sorenson pay cheaper interperter still sucks …

Comment by SORENSONDEATH on August 24, 2010 at 5:13 pm

SORENSONDEATH, Yes many are not Certified through RID, some are through the state. There are some that are not but I think they have time to become Certified. I do know Interpreters who are not Certified and are very qulified. Hanging up on Interpreters may not be the wise thing to do. There may be a time when the Interpreter may just leave the feild because of burn out or not feeling appreciated. Then what? VRS Interpreter shortage?

Comment by sad on August 25, 2010 at 5:45 pm

I had the strangest dream last night. I was interpreting, and my team was Lou Fant. At least I thought he was my team. He sat watching me, holding a clipboard and making notes. I had been interpreting for about 20 minutes, and expected him to replace me. But he didn’t. He just kept watching me and making notes. Thirty minutes passed, then forty, then forty-five. Just as I was about to signal Lou to take over, the gig ended.

“Hey, Lou,” I said, taking a liberty, “You fall asleep over there or what? That was the longest 20 minutes of my life.” Lou smiled, sweetness incarnate. “We don’t go 20, we go 50. Fifty minutes on, ten minutes off, that’s the standard. Let me give you some feedback.”

Feedback from Lou Fant is precious. Forgetting about his odd comment, I nodded my head and he started in. “Okay, for starters, your lag time averaged 4.2 seconds. The goal is 3 seconds or better. You’ve gotta bring that down.”

“There’s a standard for length of lag time?”

“Three seconds. You gotta get it down. It’s hurting the center. And before I forget, you started off by introducing yourself? We don’t do that. Then you asked for the client’s name. We don’t that either.”

“We don’t? Since when?”

“We don’t. And then you started asking about the assignment. That’s a big no-no.”

“But if I don’t ask about the assignment, how can I prepare myself?”

“You take all assignments in the order they come. You can’t decide not to take one.”

“Ummmm, Lou… what about exercising discretion in taking and doing the work? What if I need some time to recharge my batteries?”

“You get time. Fifteen seconds between assignments. If that’s not enough, maybe you should reconsider your relationship with the company. Also, it took you seven seconds to set up your topic-comment structures. Target is five. Your if-then clauses were slow, too.”

“Lou, have you gone insane? What are you talking about? Five seconds for this, ten for that? What has any of that got to do with interpreting?”

“There’s your mistake, my boy” I loved it when Lou called me “my boy.” “You’re thinking like an old-fashioned interpreter. Get with it, son. This is the 21st century. We’re not interpreters. We’re communication assistants.”

“But Lou, I thought we were team interpreting?”

“You crack me up.” I loved it when I cracked Lou up. “We’re a team all right, but not a team like the Yankees or like Abbot and Costello. That kind of team shares in the rewards of success. We’re more like Dasher and Dancer, all harnessed up and feeling the whip. Same bucket of oats, win or lose. That’s the kind of team we are.”

Then I woke up. What a crazy dream. Interpreters would never willingly surrender discretion, or teaming. Fifty minutes on and ten off? That’s outrageous. And to think that interpreters would take seriously anyone who measured their work by numbers instead of by quality. What a strange, sad dream. Except for seeing Lou again. That part was nice.

Comment by Larry Clark on September 1, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Did you know Sorenson from HQ stole many interpreters from other states!! Sorenson has over 1800 Interpreters, mostly not qualified interpreters.

Comment by sorensondeath on October 8, 2011 at 10:51 pm

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Sorenson Communications Layoffs Employees After FCC Change VRS Tired Rate

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