Dreadful article let's dispel some myths in this anti contractor environment

[SimonMac]

Mods can we add the URL to the spam filter please to stop these threads happening?

[Whorty]

This is my take ...

Dreadful article, couple of things

- Who works 50 weeks of the year? Contractors need holidays and don't get paid for bank, holidays sick and Christmas more like 47 if you're lucky.

When I started contracting I would work the contract and didn't take time off. I guess as a new contractor I had that fear that I wouldn't find another one directly afterwards and hence worked without breaks.

If the contract was 6 months, or 12 months, I'd work through. So yes, some contractors do work 50 weeks a year (at least in the initial years of contracting)

- Contractors have lean periods factor that over a 5 ears and average becomes 42 weeks a year if your lucky. I've had three months looking for work.

Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had forced lean periods. If anything I'm approached and offered my next contract before I've finished the current one. Probably due to the field I work in (Financial/Accounting Systems) so always in demand. So, I'm still at 50 weeks a year working (if I choose to)

- Contractors don't get a pension, minimum 4% employer contribution let's knock off another 2 weeks.

It's built into the day rate. When I was working 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, I was dumping the max into my pension (via the LTD so with all the (legal) tax benefits).

For that you work like a dog, you work hard and long hours, no training, uncertainty, stress. You bring masses of experience, you deliver at pace and if you don't your out simple.

The equivalent full time job at that level is probably £80k, I've just been offered that.

I work no harder as a contractor than I do as a permie. In fact, I'd argue I work less hours. Permies work extra hours, for no extra pay, to please their bosses at the annual review. As a contractor, if the client wants me to work extra hours on a frequent basis then it's going to cost them.

I do agree that if I don't deliver then I'd be out the door but this has never happened to me.

As for an £80k perm job ... nothing wrong with that. If someone wants to climb the greasy pole, likes the security of a perm job, then that's a decent salary especially if the other half is also earning.

See ... serious response

[LondonPM1]

This is my take ...


When I started contracting I would work the contract and didn't take time off. I guess as a new contractor I had that fear that I wouldn't find another one directly afterwards and hence worked without breaks.

If the contract was 6 months, or 12 months, I'd work through. So yes, some contractors do work 50 weeks a year (at least in the initial years of contracting)


Maybe I'm lucky but I've never had forced lean periods. If anything I'm approached and offered my next contract before I've finished the current one. Probably due to the field I work in (Financial/Accounting Systems) so always in demand. So, I'm still at 50 weeks a year working (if I choose to)


It's built into the day rate. When I was working 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year, I was dumping the max into my pension (via the LTD so with all the (legal) tax benefits).




I work no harder as a contractor than I do as a permie. In fact, I'd argue I work less hours. Permies work extra hours, for no extra pay, to please their bosses at the annual review. As a contractor, if the client wants me to work extra hours on a frequent basis then it's going to cost them.

I do agree that if I don't deliver then I'd be out the door but this has never happened to me.

As for an £80k perm job ... nothing wrong with that. If someone wants to climb the greasy pole, likes the security of a perm job, then that's a decent salary especially if the other half is also earning.

See ... serious response

Thanks this is very helpful indeed

Have you toyed with perm contractor conversion numbers before

If yes can you indicate what they would be - I mean what is your current day rate and what would yo uneed to convert to perm

[Whorty]

Thanks this is very helpful indeed

Have you toyed with perm contractor conversion numbers before

If yes can you indicate what they would be - I mean what is your current day rate and what would yo uneed to convert to perm

No, but that's because I'm happy with my situation. I don't contract for the money, I do it for the flexibility. Currently only working 2 days a week and that pays the bills; I don't 'need' to work any more. I might switch next time to more days a week and less months a year but don't need to make that decision just yet.

Even if perm paid more I'd still prefer contracting. I closed my LTD a couple of years ago and now either work via umbrella or FTCs. I have nothing against perms, but my lifestyle is better suited to contracting and the flexibility I get with this way of working.

[Shackattack]

No, but that's because I'm happy with my situation. I don't contract for the money, I do it for the flexibility. Currently only working 2 days a week and that pays the bills; I don't 'need' to work any more. I might switch next time to more days a week and less months a year but don't need to make that decision just yet.

Even if perm paid more I'd still prefer contracting. I closed my LTD a couple of years ago and now either work via umbrella or FTCs. I have nothing against perms, but my lifestyle is better suited to contracting and the flexibility I get with this way of working.

Seems to be quite a lot of contradictions with Worty, works 50 weeks a year, now wait 2 days a week.

Back to my original question why are there so many anti-contractors on here, Why are they so jeolous? Contracting is a natural progression. Off course you are not an employee but even with abhorrently expensive, ineffective agencies they integrate themselves in the office, the work side by side and then and only then are they half decent. (i use that term loosely)

[cojak]

Seems to be quite a lot of contradictions with Worty, works 50 weeks a year, now wait 2 days a week.

Back to my original question why are there so many anti-contractors on here, Why are they so jeolous? Contracting is a natural progression. Off course you are not an employee but even with abhorrently expensive, ineffective agencies they integrate themselves in the office, the work side by side and then and only then are they half decent. (i use that term loosely)

There aren't any anti-contractors on here.

There are just contractors and ex-contractors.

(And you need to respond to this very carefully...)

[ladymuck]

Seems to be quite a lot of contradictions with Worty, works 50 weeks a year, now wait 2 days a week.

Back to my original question why are there so many anti-contractors on here, Why are they so jeolous? Contracting is a natural progression. Off course you are not an employee but even with abhorrently expensive, ineffective agencies they integrate themselves in the office, the work side by side and then and only then are they half decent. (i use that term loosely)

It's perfectly feasible to work 2 days a week for 50 weeks of the year.

And it's:
Whorty
jealous
of

[Old Greg]

It's perfectly feasible to work 2 days a week for 50 weeks of the year.

And it's:
Whorty
jealous
of

Shackattack is the sharpest tool (although he is definitely a tool).

[darmstadt]

It's perfectly feasible to work 2 days a week for 50 weeks of the year.

And it's:
Whorty
jealous
of

If not onsite or in the office, which is about 5140 miles away, then I only work 4 hours a day so about 2 days a week although I would have no idea if I work 50 weeks a year, probably not...

[LondonPM1]

Seems to be quite a lot of contradictions with Worty, works 50 weeks a year, now wait 2 days a week.

Back to my original question why are there so many anti-contractors on here, Why are they so jeolous? Contracting is a natural progression. Off course you are not an employee but even with abhorrently expensive, ineffective agencies they integrate themselves in the office, the work side by side and then and only then are they half decent. (i use that term loosely)

I think the old folk dont want the young ones to take their jobs! Its a bit of a old boys club like cambridge or eaton is. So there is always this pretence that they are far superior

Dont worry though - Time usually fixes that