Question, just to see how common this is. As a trainee, should I be expecting to purchase my own computer, software subscription, and/or E&O insurance? I've "had" a mentor for the last year, but he hasn't given me any work in about 10 months (despite many efforts on my part to do anything at all), and I finally found another one who is going to take me on. I'm going into the office later this week to get set up in the system, make a plan for our upcoming schedule, etc. This is a bigger firm that my last supervisor and they seem to have plenty of work. However, during my short phone discussions with my new supervisor and a firm partner, they've made passing comments such as "...and you'll need to get E&O, but that's cheap", "you'll need to get a computer and the software...",before moving on to other things. I want to be prepared when I go in for the meeting. I'm 100% fine having my own things, and know that I will at some point need all of this, but I also have a few assumptions and I want to know if I'm wrong.
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I'm under the impression that I can't be an independent contractor as a trainee, since I'm not licensed to do appraisals without a supervisor. That would mean that I'm a W2 employee, and as a W2 employee, shouldn't the employer's insurance cover me? Same for the computer and software: shouldn't that be provided to me?
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even if the above is correct, yet they still insist that I provide all of it myself, am I correct in that I cannot write off any of these purchases since I'm W2?
I've been self-employed in a different industry for many years, so I'm familiar with what I can and can't do, and what I'm responsible for, while self-employed. This is a new situation for me though, and my previous supervisor didn't mention any of this. In fact, despite the lack of work, he still bought a new computer for me to use in the office, provides software, and even made up business cards for me. He didn't mention insurance once.
Thanks in advance for any insights!