5301-10 Accounting or bookkeeping services

Applies to establishments engaged in providing general accounting or bookkeeping services to others. Types of services contemplated by establishments subject to this classification include, but are not limited to:

• Auditing;

• Tax preparation;

• Medical or dental claims processing and billing;

• Advisory services.

This classification includes:

• Clerical office;

• Outside sales, and personnel who travel from one office to another.

This classification excludes establishments engaged primarily in management consultant services that are not otherwise classified, which are to be reported separately in classification 5301-12.

Special note: This classification is limited to employers engaged in such services being provided to the general public. This is a services only classification and does not include retailing or store operations, nor is this classification to be assigned to employers setting up separate business operations to manage other commonly owned or operated business undertakings unless coincidentally the other operations are also subject to this classification.

5301-11 Law firms

Applies to establishments engaged in providing legal services to others. Law firms may specialize in one or more areas of law. This classification includes clerical office and outside sales personnel who travel from one office environment to another.

Special note: This is a services only classification and does not include retailing or store operations, nor is this classification to be assigned to employers setting up separate business operations to manage other commonly owned or operated business undertakings unless coincidentally the other operations are also subject to this classification.

5301-12 Management consultant services, N.O.C.

Applies to establishments engaged in providing management consulting services not covered by another classification (N.O.C.). Management consultants typically will observe and analyze:

• Computer or communication systems;

• Mail distribution;

• Organizational structures;

• Planning or development of related business needs;

• Work processes or work flows.

After a thorough analysis, consultants usually prepare a written report for the customer which identifies problem areas and/or recommends improvements to processes or equipment. Consultants may remain to oversee the implementation of the recommended improvements. Consultants subject to this classification do not sell any product they have recommended although they may act as an agent for their client in purchasing the product. Consulting projects vary from client to client depending upon the contract. Included within this classification are businesses that provide similar consultative services such as, but not limited to:

• Advertising agencies;

• Employer representative organizations;

• Mortgage brokers and financial advisers who do not make purchases on behalf of their clients;

• Public relations companies.

This classification includes clerical office staff, outside sales personnel and other staff who travel from one office to another.

This classification excludes businesses that perform computer consulting for others, which is to be reported in classification 5302.

5301-13 Credit bureaus; collection agencies

Applies to establishments that are licensed to provide collection and/or credit investigation services to others. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Checking the credit backgrounds of their client's potential customers;

• Collection of NSF checks or delinquent debts owed to clients of the collection agency.

If debts are not collected, the service agency may initiate legal proceedings against the debtor. This classification includes clerical office and outside sales personnel, and other staff who travel from one office to another.

This classification excludes establishments engaged in providing process and legal messenger services which are to be reported separately in classification 6601.

5301-14 Employment agencies

(only to be assigned by the temporary help/leasing underwriter)

Applies to establishments that are licensed to provide employment services for others. Clients of employment agencies may be persons seeking employment or companies looking for employees. Employment agencies usually conduct preliminary interviews with candidates for positions prior to referring them to their client companies for interviews. Generally, establishments subject to this classification place people in permanent positions. This classification includes clerical office and outside sales personnel, and staff who travel from one office to another.

This classification excludes:

• Employees of a temporary help agency who are assigned to work in the administrative or branch offices of the agency who are to be reported separately in classification 7104;

• Employees of a temporary help agency who are assigned on a temporary basis to its customers who are to be reported separately in the appropriate temporary help classification.

5301-15 Court reporting services

Applies to establishments engaged in providing court reporting services to others. Court reporters record verbatim testimony presented in court proceedings, depositions, public hearings or meetings. The most frequently used method to record testimony is by stenotype machine, although it may be recorded by voice recording on audio tape, or by manual shorthand. Transcription of the recorded material may be performed by the court reporter or by "note readers" or typists. The majority of court reporters today use computer-aided transcription systems. Court reporters may also offer notary public services for their clients. This classification includes clerical office and staff who travel from one office to another.

5301-16 Service and professional organizations

Applies to establishments engaged in protecting or furthering the interest of their members and/or the general public. Many of these operate as nonprofit organizations. Service and professional organizations may perform one or many of the following activities:

• Administer certification tests;

• Arbitrate disputes;

• Award scholarships;

• Collect membership dues;

• Compile, review, and disseminate informational data;

• Disburse funds;

• Host conventions;

• Issue vehicle license registrations, plates, decals, and certificates of title;

• Lobby the legislature;

• Manage promotional marketing programs;

• Maintain a membership directory;

• Offer insurance programs;

• Operate a tourist information center;

• Organize fund-raising campaigns;

• Perform charitable community services;

• Perform collective bargaining;

• Provide counseling, adoption, and advocacy services;

• Provide job placement assistance;

• Publish a newsletter;

• Research and interpret local, state, and federal regulations and apprise members of the results;

• Sponsor athletic leagues and tournaments;

• Sponsor educational training programs.

Also included in this classification are Economic Development Councils, Boards, or Associations. These nonprofit organizations provide economic consulting services and related statistics to government and industry in the promotion of economic stability, and recruit businesses that will create jobs and provide loans from the grant funds they manage. This classification includes clerical office and outside sales personnel who travel from one office environment to another.

This classification excludes:

• Collection of donated items by truck which is to be reported separately in classification 1101;

• Labor unions and employee representative associations which are to be reported separately in classification 6503.

Special note: If a charitable organization subject to classification 5301 operates a retail store for the sale of donated items, the collection of those items by truck, and all store operations, are to be reported separately in classification 6504.

5301-18 Telephone answering services

Applies to establishments engaged in providing telephone answering services or call centers for others. Customers include, but are not limited to:

• Attorneys;

• Medical professionals;

• Private businesses;

• Individuals.

Most answering services today use computerized communications systems to identify company names when answering calls for various companies, obtain correct information about the company to respond to questions, record and relay accurate messages in a timely manner. Related services often offered to customers by telephone answering service companies or call centers include, but are not limited to:

• Dispatching;

• Monitoring alarm systems;

• Placing reminder calls;

• Rental of office space;

• Scheduling appointments for customers;

• Taking orders for customers;

• Troubleshooting technical problems;

• Telemarketing;

• Voice mail or paging.

This classification includes clerical office personnel and staff who travel from one office to another.

5301-19 Travel agencies

Applies to establishments engaged in providing travel arrangement services for others. Travel agencies coordinate all types of travel arrangements for their clients through:

• Air;

• Bus lines;

• Car rental agencies;

• Cruise;

• Hotels;

• Motels;

• Related travel providers;

• Resorts;

• Train;

• Travel insurance companies.

Services vary and could include:

• Arrangement of special needs for people with disabilities or elderly travelers;

• Booking reservations;

• Delivery of tickets and itineraries to clients;

• Selling tickets for tours, excursions, or other entertainment events.

This classification includes clerical office and sales staff who travel from one office to another.

5301-21 Word processing, secretarial, or tutoring services

Applies to establishments engaged in providing word processing or secretarial services to others. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Correcting assignments;

• Desktop publishing;

• Dictation and transcription services;

• Instruction;

• Making copies of documents;

• Student assessments;

• Typing/compiling reports, proposals, resumes, or correspondence;

• Testing;

• Sending faxes.

This classification includes clerical office and outside personnel who travel from one office or instructional environment to another.

Excluded operations: Classification 5301-21 excludes:

• Tutoring programs operated by schools, libraries, and any other organization or enterprise classified 6103 and/or 6104.

Note: WAC 296-17-31017 multiple classifications must be applied when more than one basic classification is assigned.

PDFWAC 296-17A-5301

Classification 5301.