Code of Professional Conduct, Ethics, and Role:
It is MasterWord’s expectation and requirement that all certified and qualified Communication Access professionals (American Sign Language Interpreters and Communication Access Realtime Translation Providers) strictly maintain a professional role in all encounters and uphold the guidelines and spirit of the professional standards of conduct and ethics as outlined in the guiding principles applicable to the encounter, including without limitation:
- RID/NAD Code of Professional Conduct (ASL Interpreters)
- NCRA Code of Professional Ethics (CART Providers)
Compensation:
In-Person Assignments: Assignments are paid based on the requested number of hours or a two (2) hour minimum*, whichever is greater. Time worked in excess of the requested number of hours will be paid in 15-minute increments thereafter.
Virtual Assignments: Assignments are paid based on the requested number of hours or a one (1) hour minimum, whichever is greater. Time worked in excess of the requested number of hours will be paid in 15-minute increments thereafter.
Cancellation Terms:
A cancellation fee applies to services cancelled by MasterWord within 24 hours of the start time of the requested service and is paid in accordance with the aforementioned DHHD Compensation Policy.**
Force Majeure: If either party is prevented from performing any of its duties and obligations hereunder in a timely manner by reason of any act of God, strike, labor dispute, flood, public/natural disaster, power failures, or any other reason beyond its reasonable control, such condition shall be deemed to be a valid excuse for delay of performance or nonperformance of any such duty or obligations for the period during which such condition exists. If any scope of service as outlined is cancelled, as a result of an Event of Force Majeure, by MasterWord or any Masterword client resulting in the inability to perform services, will be considered non-payable to the contractor, including pre-established minimums as outlined in the provided confirmations.
Attendance, Reporting and Escalation Protocol:
Running Late: ASL Interpreters/CART providers are expected to arrive or log into the assignment at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. In the event you are unable to arrive or log into your assignment on time for any reason, please contact MasterWord immediately.
Wait Time: If after reporting to the assignment, the client is not there for more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time or you are asked to wait by client for more than 15 minutes, please contact MasterWord.
Cancelling Out of an Assignment: In the event that you are prevented from being able to keep your commitment to your assignment and must cancel, please contact MasterWord immediately by calling our office at 281-589-0810.
Client Concerns/Issues: Please report any and all issues that occur during your assignment to MasterWord at your earliest convenience. It is the expectation and requirement of MasterWord that the attempt to resolve client issues be escalated and handled directly by MasterWord, and not the Communication Access professional.
HIPAA/FERPA/Confidentiality:
As a Communication Access professional, you may have access to information that is federally protected under either the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or the Family Educational Right and Privacy Act (FERPA). It is the expectation and requirement of MasterWord that all Communication Access professionals accepting assignments adhere to all Federal and other regulatory privacy compliance laws and policies.
Badges:
It is MasterWord’s expectation and requirement that all Communication Access professionals, who are providing services to or on behalf of MasterWord wear their badge, on their person during assignment encounters. If your badge has been lost, please alert MasterWord immediately and request a replacement. A temporary badge will be issued within 24 hours and a badge replacement fee may apply. Additionally, it is always incumbent that each Communication Access professional carry their own government issued ID or Driver’s license for identification purposes.
Time Keeping, Assignment Extensions:
Interpreting Assignment Confirmation Form: All pertinent assignment details, including date and time of assignment, service location, point of contact information, special instructions, as well as confirmed rate and any other applicable compensable costs are listed in your Interpreting Assignment Confirmation form. The Interpreting Assignment Confirmation form serves as a binding agreement between you and MasterWord of your service rate, minimum, and other pre-approved fees, where applicable. It is your responsibility to carefully review the Interpreting Assignment Confirmation and inform MasterWord immediately (and prior to the assignment start time) if any adjustments or corrections need to be made. No adjustments shall be made to the approved rates, minimums, and terms after the assignment start time.
Interpreting Services Verification Form: You must bring an Interpreting Services Verification Form or another client specific form that was provided to you at the time of assignment confirmation and present it to a designated client representative for endorsement at the completion of your assignment. An Interpreting Services Verification Form or another client specific form serves as a documented evidence of time worked and shall be submitted to MasterWord in order to received payment for performed services.
Assignment Extensions: If you are requested to stay longer than the estimated duration of your assignment as indicated in your Interpreting Assignment Confirmation form, the client needs to contact MasterWord by calling our office at 281.589.0810 to request time extension. Upon confirmation with MasterWord, your Interpreting Services Verification Form needs to be notated by client representative with an extension in the applicable section of the form. If you do not obtain approval for assignment extension following these guidelines, the extended duration of the assignment is not approved and therefore will not be paid as time worked.
Record Submission and Payment Terms:
Record Submission Policy: Interpreter agrees within two (2) business days after the completion of each interpreting assignment to furnish MasterWord with a properly completed and authorized MasterWord Interpreting Services Verification form for Contract Interpreting Services and any client required documentation, covering the services provided and approved reimbursable expenses incurred.
Interpreter acknowledges that if an Interpreting Services Verification Form is not provided to MasterWord within the timeframe outlined above, due to MasterWord’s clients’ billing policies, untimely invoiced Interpreter’s services may no longer qualify as billable hours and could result in violation of MasterWord’s contractual requirements with clients. No additional expenses will be paid on a late time record submissions. Likewise, Interpreter acknowledges compensation shall be made only after the Interpreting Services Verification form has been completed and properly and timely invoiced to MasterWord and accepts that any time records submitted after net thirty (30) days of service completion may not be eligible for compensation.
Record Submission Procedure: Upon completion of your assignment please have a client representative or designated contact person write in your start and finish time and sign your Interpreting Services Verification Form or another client specific form documenting the time worked. Please do not write your rate of pay or other fees on the Interpreting Services Verification Form. If a record correction is required, you should correct the information by drawing a single line through the incorrect data and requesting the designated client representative to initial the change. MasterWord cannot accept records that have been altered without the client approval or any corrections that have been made using correction tape or liquid paper “white out”. Verification forms with obvious unapproved alterations will not be accepted and the payment for services will not be issued.
Any additional expenses must be pre-approved in writing in your Interpreting Assignment Confirmation Form. You must submit itemized receipt(s) or another valid documented evidence for all pre-approved compensable expenses, such as parking, upon completion of your assignment. Notwithstanding the pre-approval, undocumented expenses will not be reimbursed.
Record Retention: You should retain a copy of all documents for your records.
Payment Terms: Payments for services and eligible pre-approved expenses are processed net 30 days from the receipt of an approved Interpreting Services Verification Form or other valid documented evidence as verified and accepted by MasterWord’s Accounting Department. Please note any records submitted after 5pm CST will be counted as the next business day’s submission.
For more information, please read: https://help.masterword.com/PaymentTermsFAQs
Acceptance and Agreement:
Acceptance of this assignment confirms your acceptance to the terms and conditions contained within this confirmation. The provisions as outlined in the confirmation supersede similar or like provisions as outlined in your current agreement with MasterWord Services, Inc. All other provisions of the agreement remain in full force and effect.
*In the state of Texas, a 2-hour minimum is inclusive of a one hour admin fee.
**Assignments cancelled as a result of Force Majeure are not compensable.