director of business development

human resources manager

human resources coordinator

business development executive

StratComm, Inc

My position is a subcontractor and considered self employed. The Scheduled work is generally posted one month ahead of time. You can request time off when necessary for emergencies, weather related events and funerals as needed. You can also pick up additional work days as they come up if you are willing to travel. You are paid an amount based on the miles you travel and motels are pre paid if necessary, but you are not paid any for the time you travel.  The company has contracts in all of the states so travel to any state could be possible. The job consists of cleaning the hearing room, making sure the equipment is working, the agenda is in the room &  a copy given to the security guards. The hearing room is a very secure room with a security guard right outside the room or in the room depending on the location. Some rooms are provided with alarms and others have camers that the security guard monitor. The judges are very friendly and mostly helpful. I really enjoy working with all of them and all of the vocational experts. When the judge arrives  either live or virtually, you bring in the vocationaland medical experts by phone & escort the claimant in. The judge starts the hearing and you start the recording. You use head phones to make sure the hearing is being recorded and type notes during the hearing so the judge can go back to any place in the recorded hearing without listening to all of it. When the hearing is over you stop the recording and escort the claimant out of the hearing room. You let the experts go unless they are needed on the next hearing. Either after the hearing or at the end of the day, you fill out a report on your invoice form on your phone for the hearing and a paper report for the judge's office & the company's office. The paper reports are mailed or faxed at the end of the day. This is a Part Time Position. You could work 1 day a week and 5 days the next week. You could work one week in the month or 4 weeks in the month. Your daily hours could vary also. You might work 2 hours one day and 8 hours another day. The hardest part of the job is having equipment that does not work correctly  and having clientt not show up. Neither of these these are the company's fault. I have learned to use a polycom video system, multi line telephone system and recirding system. The company provides initial training and ongoning training as equipment and systems change. Training is provided if processes are changed. Most of these trainings are done through Zoom.  One requirement is you have a smart phone or an iphone. Pay has been good. Payment will be every two weeks. You will submit an invoice for the work you provided through your phone on an invoice and you will be paid from that invoice. At the end of the year you are provided a 1099 for filing income taxes. What I do not like about about working for this company is the compensation for travel. I was told that it was strictly based on mileage. This does not account for my time traveling. Some places are seven hours away snd in the winter, I will not travel home after doing a days worth of hearings. The company does pay for another day motel, but I have another day of meal expenses not covered as the company will only pay one rate based on mileage no matyer how many days you are in that location. Supervisors can be reached by phone or emsil and are easy to work with. Higher management can be reached by phone or email and will respond to your questions or concerns as soon as they can. It is a very professional company that treats the subcontractors with respect.  Most if all I have enjoyed wirking withvthe judges and learnong how this hearing process works. Overall, I have really enjoyed working for this company, doing this type of work and working with all the different people. Additionally,  I have enjoyed working in all the different locations.

Apparently at one time court reporters  (VHR) for the Social Security Administration (SSA) were covered and compensated under the SSA.   Apparently four or five years ago Court Reporters were "outsourced" to a private company.  The company, Stratcomm, set the compensation rates which resulted in individuals working as reporters received a pay cut from what the SSA was offering.  

Stratcomm reviews sites such as this one (Indeed, Glassdoor) for individuals who are either working part-time, or  have been recently laid off and  are looking for work themselves.  They ask you to take a relatively easy typing test and then ask you to fill out a bunch of paperwork, then subject you to a lengthy background check.  In addition to the application is a contract that basically explains the rate of pay and benefits for anyone who wants to take the job.  As I worked in New Jersey the rate was $25.00 for each disability hearing but only if the judge took "sworn" testimony or taking an oath.  If "sworn testimony" is not taken or the claimant does not show up for the disability hearing you are only eligible to receive $5.00 and if its more than 24 hours that you were informed of the individual not showing up you'll get nothing.  The $5.00 or nothing scenarios happen about 75% percent of the time.  In addition you get no lunch breaks even if you work more than 6 hours which is actually aganist labor relations in some states.  Interesting how the federal govenment handles things, eh? 

In addition Stratcomm will schedule you in accordance to the schedule of disability hearing based in your area also based on the number of hearing reporters already working in your area.  Sometimes you'l  get to work 5 days a week while other weeks you may only work perhaps one day a week.  It is also never the same day per week.  You are also assigned a online schedule where you can modify you hours of days you can't work (doesn't make a lot of sense as they may still schedule you for the day anyway).  You are also assigned to a Associate Project Manager (APM) who is not really helpful.  They also make many errors on the schedule and sometimes you are scheduled for hearings only to find out once you get there they have been cancelled leaving you to then contemplate you next move.  Go home, try to get things done in a library, or whatever.  

In my experience with Strattcomm you'll only get paid once and month and no taxes are withheld leaving you to claim them at the end of the year.  In addition to that they will claim that you bill at the full hearing rate informing you that there was no "sworn testimony" that is you'll get the $5.00 instead of the $25.00.  Reasons are that the SSA infomed them their was no hearing.  In inquiring with Stratcomm if they could share the infomation they got from the SSA they would not respond.  

If you enjoy working with fairly disorganized people who never get back to you.  Like working with abusive, non-caring  judges in the SSA,  and frankly have nothing better to do then I guess this job is for you.  In hindsight I'll never sign up for a job like this again.

Most unreliable paycheck you'll ever receive. You get $25-27 a hearing only if the person is "sworn in". If not, 5 freaking dollars! How cheap and pathetic is that? Why do we get chump change when VE, ME, judges all get their full pay regardless of what happens? We have to rely on unreliable homeless/people with mental issues/sick people who never or rarely have worked to show up on time or we dont get paid!! Absurd! 

It would be one thing if this rarely happened like once a week or so, but cancels/no shows happen daily- sometimes 3 to 4 a day don't even show. So you end up making like 50-60 or even less for 5-7 hours. Then you have judges who don't swear in claimant so you record and type for 20 mins+ and still only get $5.

the rules to get full rate are always changing too to make it less of a chance for VHRs to get their full rate. It went from just going on record and them showing up, to they must be sworn in to charge full. Few times my check was deducted due to supposedly charging full rate instead of the cancelled $5. No employee apperciation.

You're expected to show up 30 minutes early in case of SSA mistakes such as computer issues or incorrect info you have to sort out but you're not compensated for going early or the time in between hearings. Just supposed to sit there and wait for slow judges and unreliable claimants who probably wont show up anyway. 

You get no set break or even a break/lounge room to go to. Often you can be sitting there from 8 am to 3 pm with no time for lunch or breaks. That is straight illegal but its ok cause we are just contractors, right?

Also you have to fill out an invoice with extensive details of every hearing you did for each month to get paid. This process takes 2 hours or so and is also more unpaid work they expect of you. The amount of unpaid time youll spend at office and at home is more then the time you're actually paid for.

I worked here for about a year- never called out or missed hearings or violated any SSA rules yet I was never given even a dollar raise. No bonus. No paid vacation.  Felt really under apperciated. 

I had a good laugh at the question regarding "what benefits does Strattcom offer:Dental, Vision,Health, 401k, paid time off..." LOL none of those! 

But the biggest issue for myself and other VHRs who have left or still around is the shameful low $5 cancellation rate. Not only is it unfair as everyone else gets their full pay, but its a slap in the face to not even pay half or even $10 for cancels. $5 is ridiculous and cant be lived off of. Step up your game Strattcom!

What is the best part of working at the company?
Enjoy working with the Judges and their staff. It's great work. Each hearing is different. 
Now working for Strattcom is not a great work environment at all. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part working for Strattcom is their communication process. They do not communicate well at all. If you request more work, they ignore you or try to placate you at best. They are always making sure to give out more jobs while you are working during a hearing. While working in a hearing you cannot be disturbed at all.  
Trying to get answers to simple questions such as computer issues is very frustrating.  For example: If your computer is DOS format and not even on the LOG ON screen how do you make your computer work. 
You are punished if you make sure the computer is working for your next hearing. Even when you are not working that day only to check your emails. 
So working for this company Strattcom is frustrating and annoying. 
Working for the Judges and their staff is great. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment and culture for Stratcomm is again very annoying and frustrating They send you videos after videos how to do a hearing. When you do an actual hearing you are left with more questions than answers. If it wasn't for the staff of who actually work for Social Security and know what it is to be done during a hearing, is what makes this job great. 
Stratcomm have no knowledge what actually goes on in a hearing. I do not know what they base their knowledge on and its frustrating. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Typical day is great when the computer is working. When computer is working the day goes great with no problems during the hearings. 
If you have computer issues, then that is not a great day. The staff with Social Security help with the computer issue and its great. 
When you let Stratcomm know its a headache because they do not understand. When you try explaining it to them its VERY FRUSTRATING!!!!

What is the best part of working at the company?
There are some nice people here and the work culture at the middle levels of the company is friendly.  The benefits are decent for a small business.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
There is very little advanced planning here, so everything on the growth side is is a popup with a short suspense that drives constant changes in work schedules.  In the 6 months I worked there i was only able to take 1 holiday and had to cancel my plans for time off over a dozen times.  I ended up working nearly every weekend, and senior management frequently directed work requirements at the last minute with very near term deadlines.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment is very serial, and I received no orientation as to work flow and roles and responsibilities.   I spent a great deal of time determining who did what, which was made more confusing by job titles that did not correlate to job responsibilities.  Work culture at the mid level was friendly and cooperative, but dealing with senior leadership proved frustrating as I often received conflicting direction and was apparently expected to know how the company did things that I could only discover over time by querying other employees.   My sense was that most people were overworked and had little time to meet with me or provide me with needed information.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I worked many holidays and weekends and had multiple occasions where I had to work from 7:30 AM till 10:00 PM.  This is a very much a business that is reactive not proactive.  I spend a good part of many days just trying to learn more about the business, and relied on people who seemed to have very limited time to speak with me about my questions.

If you are looking for extra money without having to work evenings, nights, weekends or holidays, then I highly recommend working as a Video Hearing Reporting for Strategic Communications.
The most difficult part was at the beginning with completing endless applications and having to drive to the nearest Social Security office to get fingerprinted and obtain the identification card because it is needed  to sign into your work station.  However, once you complete this tedious process, the training is short and the work is not difficult.   
You must have the following 4 things: Punctuality, Organization, The Ability to Listen and Type Fast.
It is important that you ARRIVE ON TIME which was not a problem for me.  For example, if you are scheduled for a hearing at 9AM, you must arrive at least 30 minutes before your starting time to prepare your station and be ready for when the judge calls you. 
You must be very organized with your paperwork, keep track of your hours and must be able to listen and type fast as you will be recording all that is said during the video hearings.
I was able to comfortably pick up my new responsibilities in about 2 weeks.  I like it because you plan your own schedule and take off when you want.  All the other video hearing reporters were very helpful and so were the security guards who are responsible for letting you into the office building.  This job is a perfect fit because it helps me make ends meet and does not interfere with my other place of employment.  This job has given me the opportunity to meet new people and work with different Judges who are all very pleasant and professional.  This position has helped me become a BETTER listener.  I'm very happy with this VHR position and plan to stay for as long as they need me.

I came into my job as a VHR for Stratcomm with 45 years of being in the workforce, legal experience, an AA Degree in Business Admin., mobile notary experience, and experience working with people and clients. It was a great interview process, but took 4-5 mos to get started. Even though i still had a small income as a notary, i still signed up to work 5 days a wk. I'm glad i did because dockets are spread out amongst many VHR's. Once in a while id get 4 days, mostly 3 days a week with occasional last min call to fill in. The hourly rate was fine with me. But i did draw SS retirement early. I couldn't have met my budget without it. I absolutely love the judges and SS staff I work with. True there is no break room, but i usually am busy with all the worksheets and other end of day emails that need to be sent. VHR's used to type every word said by everyone verbatim (and I did, as i typed 120 wpm), but now with their new HeaRT system, it's all recorded. You just make sure the system is recording, and you stop it when it's over.  If i want, I go out for a quick coffee or salad during a break between hearings .  I chose to pay $130/mo to park on their lot as it makes getting to and leaving work much less stressful. There were cheaper options further away but weather can be brutal. Most hearings are remote/by phone or video now..not too many in persons-so i'm alone most days.  All in all...i can't imagine a better working experience for part-time work. I also love being a 1099 contractor.  

Pay & benefits
My pay and benefits at StratComm, Inc are low based on the work expected. No pay increase in the almost 3 years I’ve been there and zero benefits. They justify this by saying the cost of medical, PTO, etc is included in our hearing rate, which is $25 a hearing. I’ve had hearings that have lasted 2 hours. However, if a hearing doesn’t occur, we are paid only $5. Though we are at the location and on standby for further hearings, we are paid not even minimum wage. The company also has unwritten rules as to what constitutes a hearing. They refuse to pay you for some of your hearings!

Job security and advancement
In terms of job security at StratComm, Inc, there is no advancement as a verbatim hearing reporter.

Management
In general, managers at StratComm, Inc have absolutely no management skills. They do not communicate with you. They ignore you when there’s an issue. They have no consideration for their subcontractors. There were times I’d drive to the hearing location, only to be told the hearings for the day were cancelled. No one bothered to tell me ahead of time. I got paid a $5 cancellation rate for the entire day. I’d get up early, get ready, drive there and then have to turn around and go home.

Overall
My experience working at StratComm, Inc has been more negative than positive. I loved the work itself. However, they could care less about their subcontractors. I learned the hard way. I went above and beyond and was screwed in the end.

I've had the privilege of working with StratComm for the past 10 years, and I can honestly say it's been an incredible experience. From day one, the company has prioritized professional growth and development, creating an environment that fosters both personal and career advancement. The leadership team is supportive, approachable, and always encouraging new ideas, which has allowed me to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the company's success.
One of the standout benefits of working at StratComm is the flexibility of working from home, which has allowed me to balance my personal and professional life. The company also organizes quarterly outings, which are a fantastic way to connect with coworkers and enjoy some fun outside of work. Additionally, we have monthly in-office days, which offer a wonderful chance to reconnect with coworkers in person!
I also truly appreciate the company’s commitment to giving back to the community. Volunteering at our most recent event was an incredibly fulfilling experience. It’s clear that our CEO values social responsibility, and being part of a company that prioritizes this is something I admire.
StratComm is not just a place to work, it's a place to grow, to innovate, and to feel genuinely valued. I’m proud to be part of a company that consistently strives for excellence, and I’m excited for what the next 10 years will bring!


I currently work at Stratcomm as a VHR and love my job. Everyone I work with, including our regional managers are friendly and always willing to help if needed. I am able to set my own work schedule and work far fewer hours than I would for the same part-time pay elsewhere in my area. This gives me time to also freelance on other projects at home for additional income. The job is what you make it. In addition to the reporting and technical duties, you are in a position to help make the hearing experience a little less stressful for claimants who have waited a long time to be heard. A little kindness goes a long way in alleviating their anxiety and making a hearing easier for all involved to get through. I enjoy getting to be a light in our office! Almost everyone I get to work with are kind, happy people. You will not receive much training when you first start, so it is important that you are willing to dig in and learn the job on your own. I would say self motivation is a requirement for this position, for sure. If you are looking for great pay, this is probably not a good fit. If work-life balance is more important to you, it is a fantastic gig for some extra income.

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