Local assignments thru a travel agency

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Okay..Question: I'm going through travel agencies to try ang get a job at a local hospital 15 miles from my home. Right? No lying about address involved! In New Orleans after Katrina, there's no housing available...Hospital's are willing to waive the 'no locals' rule. So I got a verbal offer from the hosp. through one agency I've been talking to....(no contract signed yet).... And another agency calls this am with an offer of $5 more per hour ...same hospital. I was submitted through the first agency and obviously that's who the offer was extended from.. I want to be professional and loyal, but come on...$5 dollars an hour is a big difference. If I allow the 2nd agency to submit me...do I run the risk of losing the contract all together for being greedy? Or does the hospital not give a hoot one way or the other who I go through? Also, how does 'subsidy' allowance work for a local who doesn't take the housing. Tax free now....but what about next year come tax time?

Any helpful response is greatly appreciated.

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Okay..Question: I'm going through travel agencies to try ang get a job at a local hospital 15 miles from my home. Right? No lying about address involved! In New Orleans after Katrina, there's no housing available...Hospital's are willing to waive the 'no locals' rule. So I got a verbal offer from the hosp. through one agency I've been talking to....(no contract signed yet).... And another agency calls this am with an offer of $5 more per hour ...same hospital. I was submitted through the first agency and obviously that's who the offer was extended from.. I want to be professional and loyal, but come on...$5 dollars an hour is a big difference. If I allow the 2nd agency to submit me...do I run the risk of losing the contract all together for being greedy? Or does the hospital not give a hoot one way or the other who I go through? Also, how does 'subsidy' allowance work for a local who doesn't take the housing. Tax free now....but what about next year come tax time?

Any helpful response is greatly appreciated.

See if the first agency will meet the others $$$$

Your housing is not tax deductible because you are able to go home every day after work. 15 miles doesn't require you to "rest" . You are not duplicating expenses. You can't deduct ME&I's either.

Read, re-read and then read again Pub 463 of the IRS tax code.

You can find it here... www.irs.gov

Good luck

P.S. Why not just do per diem with the hospital and by pass the agency?

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Okay..Question: I'm going through travel agencies to try ang get a job at a local hospital 15 miles from my home. Right? No lying about address involved! In New Orleans after Katrina, there's no housing available...Hospital's are willing to waive the 'no locals' rule. So I got a verbal offer from the hosp. through one agency I've been talking to....(no contract signed yet).... And another agency calls this am with an offer of $5 more per hour ...same hospital. I was submitted through the first agency and obviously that's who the offer was extended from.. I want to be professional and loyal, but come on...$5 dollars an hour is a big difference. If I allow the 2nd agency to submit me...do I run the risk of losing the contract all together for being greedy? Or does the hospital not give a hoot one way or the other who I go through? Also, how does 'subsidy' allowance work for a local who doesn't take the housing. Tax free now....but what about next year come tax time?

Any helpful response is greatly appreciated.

Most facilities will actually cross you right off of their list if you are submitted by more than one agency. It is also considered bad business to do that.

And yes, you will more than likely lose the offer................

My advice: never, ever get sumbitted by more than one agency to the same facility. It looks bad all around. Homework needs to be done first as to who is going to pay more, etc., before you are submitted.

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Okay..Question: I'm going through travel agencies to try ang get a job at a local hospital 15 miles from my home. Right? No lying about address involved! In New Orleans after Katrina, there's no housing available...Hospital's are willing to waive the 'no locals' rule. So I got a verbal offer from the hosp. through one agency I've been talking to....(no contract signed yet).... And another agency calls this am with an offer of $5 more per hour ...same hospital. I was submitted through the first agency and obviously that's who the offer was extended from.. I want to be professional and loyal, but come on...$5 dollars an hour is a big difference.

1-If I allow the 2nd agency to submit me...do I run the risk of losing the contract all together for being greedy?

2-Or does the hospital not give a hoot one way or the other who I go through?

3-Also, how does 'subsidy' allowance work for a local who doesn't take the housing. Tax free now....but what about next year come tax time?

Any helpful response is greatly appreciated.

1-Once you are submitted, you are obligated to that Agency. I would be VERY cautious on allowing another Agency to get involved at this point. Perhaps, after your contract expires (I am guessing 13 weeks) you can then use the other Agency. You may want to negotiate better terms though with the first Agency to increase the rate (you sound savvy enough.. it does not hurt to ask).

2- I think the facilites notice a person of integrity.

3-Check IRS.gov for rulings on travel allowance; it reads tax home should be greater then 50 miles.

I hope that helps. Please come visit us on the Agency and Travel Forums. You will find the links below my signature line.

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P.S. Why not just do per diem with the hospital and by pass the agency?

Because Agency Nurses:

earn more (usually)

do not have to go to meetings

are not as limited

can work their own schedules (with PRN work) or are savvy with scheduling

etc...

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