Not a legit court reporting agency - Court Reporter Sargent's Employee Review

1.0
8 Aug 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You are paid a salary but it is very low. If you work in the Philly office, they pay for your garage parking.

Cons

Cons outweigh the pros. You are an employee here, not a freelancer, so it's an 8:30 to 5 job but if they need you after 5pm, it's not overtime. The majority of their reporters are voice writers and not stenographers and both just record the audio of the depositions and you have to send the audio to the main office and their typists type the work. As a stenographer, they send out work you never get to look over yet they use your name on the certification page. They send brand new reporters to take difficult medical doctor depositions and have typists with little to no knowledge of medical or legal jargon transcribe the audio. You can drive 100 miles to take a 20 minute job and get reimbursed only 24 cents a mile. They make you buy a $300 audio recorder which they deduct from your paycheck in $50 increments. While they give you some vacation days, there are so many guidelines about when you can take them and you end up never getting any time off. They have terrible jobs and produce low quality work that even if you just finished court reporting school, I don't recommend this agency because you will never improve your quality of work or build your dictionary at this dead end job. Management is non-existent and their practices are unprofessional and borderline illegal.

Explore other reviews about Sargent's

5.0
22 Jul 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Steady work. Good people who care for their fellow workers and the company's clients.

Cons

Sometimes work weekends and occasionally overtime during the week.

1.0
9 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There is consistent monotonous work available and you will gain experience quickly. Coworkers often rely on each other for support and try their best to make difficult situations manageable.

Cons

Management communication is extremely limited, and decisions are often made without employee input or explanation. There is little to no flexibility in scheduling. Staff are required to report to the office even when they have nothing on their calendar, and hybrid or remote options are not considered as advertised. Overtime and travel are common, but compensation rarely matches the extra time, inconvenience, and personal cost. Time off policies are restrictive, unrealistic and always changing. Vacation can be denied simply because someone else in another office is already off, and sick days may be refused if the schedule is too busy. Extremely short staffed. Computer monitoring is highly visible and contributes to a culture where employees feel watched rather than trusted. The overall message many take away is that output matters more than people. Over time, this can create anxiety, burnout, and low morale. Career growth, advancement, and professional development opportunities are limited, leaving many employees feeling stagnant. The atmosphere can feel tense, and recognition for hard work is not always evident.

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