Overseas Call Centers Hurt USA

The companies that are on my “lowest of the low list” are those who hire overseas call centers to handle their customer service departments.  These companies not only take jobs from the USA but most often force a subpar customer service experience on the caller.
 
This movement has caused a huge disparity between call center employment numbers between the US and those overseas. The motivating factors in doing so is to save or make money on the backs of those whose wages are considerably less.  According to Seattle Times article, Microsoft's call-center business in India gets an American accent, “One factor is the cost savings for U.S. companies, which are also the biggest customers of call-center services. Service-worker salaries in India are $6,179 versus $42,927 in the U.S., according to Nasscom.”
 
This past June Senator Charles Shumer (D-NY) proposed legislation to tax companies that set up help lines overseas.  If this legislation is passed, when your call is transferred to an overseas call center you will receive a recording that indicates your call is being transferred overseas.  The company will be taxed .25 per call and the total number of calls from the USA that the call center receives must be disclosed.

I envision a day when companies like Hilton Worldwide will rehire their presently laid off United States employees. Call it a pipe dream but it would be the right thing for Hilton to do.