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Just had a chat with client about next year...

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    Just had a chat with client about next year...

    Morning,

    Just putting it out there for some reading - not looking for advice or anything.

    I’ve been working for my client for 14 months. Started off as a simple 6 month “we need these skills to help complete this project” for them. I completed that and agreed to extend it for additional projects they have - saves them looking for someone else; I was tried, tested and happy to do the work for them. I’m sure you’ve all been there.

    This morning I was called into a meeting room as “I’ve just heard about this IR35 thing. It’s from April but we don’t want to lose you as you’re doing good stuff for us. It’s just an idea at the moment but would you consider taking a permanent role with us or even a fixed term contract?”

    No further details given but I politely said I see myself as a contractor and they are my client. I can’t say yes or no but right now I’d like to remain running my business so it’s not likely I’d want a permanent role. FTC is worst of all worlds so that’s a no go.

    Any way, I’m sticking to my guns and happy to leave at the end of this contract. It’s a very individual decision to make and thankfully I’m in a position whereby I don’t have to say yes to anything out of desperation.

    The chap I was talking to “didn’t like this IR35 thing one bit. If I have work for you and you’re happy to do it, I don’t see the problem”. I imagine lots of these big companies will be having similar conversations. I just hate feeling like I’m being backed into a corner being told to accept something I don’t like, so...could backfire but hey. I’m happy to wait and see...

    He did say though that he’d imagine a lot of good people will be leaving because of it. He’s now attempting to speak to his HR to see if I can be outside IR35 and continue (not holding my breath but hey, nice of him to try...)

    I’ll post on here as and when I get more info.

    #2
    Why not negotiate a new contract that's firmly outside of IR35? Or are they still not happy to take the risk?
    Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

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      #3
      ...more to follow...all negotiating options are open atm in terms of trying to get outside determination. I'm not going perm unless they offered something silly, which i doubt will ever happen.

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        #4
        Hope it works out well. Keep us posted if you can, always nice to hear how different clients are handling this.

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          #5
          It's increasingly a good idea for companies who engage contractors to speak with IR35 experts for advice and guidance on how to deal with the challenges they are likely to face around resource levels and project delivery as a result of the shifting of responsibility for status assessment under IR35.

          I'd be happy to have an informal chat with any interested parties.

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            #6
            Originally posted by Patrick@Intouch View Post
            It's increasingly a good idea for companies who engage contractors to speak with IR35 experts for advice and guidance on how to deal with the challenges they are likely to face around resource levels and project delivery as a result of the shifting of responsibility for status assessment under IR35.

            I'd be happy to have an informal chat with any interested parties.
            You worried about your business Patrick? Can't see many contractors being left in play come April 20

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              #7
              Originally posted by craigy1874 View Post
              You worried about your business Patrick? Can't see many contractors being left in play come April 20
              Haha, no I think the market will right itself in time, though we are likely in for a bumpy ride! We've always provided IR35 reviews and advice to contractors and are keen to help business owners and decision-makers understand IR35 and discuss ways to safely engage contractors on an outside IR35 basis.

              What could be better evidence of an organisation having taken reasonable care than engaging an IR35 specialist provider (with 10 years experience) to navigate status assessments?

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                #8
                I get the feeling that a lot of companies are quite fearful of HMRC at the moment, they have have been becoming quite aggressive in recent years and the legislation has given them unprecedented powers to seemingly make it up as they go along.

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                  #9
                  Hope yo don't mind me adding to the thread.

                  Situation, large (very) law firm. Interestingly they rely heavily on contractors as the sector (if you didn't know) has a thing about fee earner to business support ratio. Contractors don't get counted!

                  On the negative side, Law firms are risk adverse as it is the partners that will take the risk.

                  IR35 currently under consideration, determination likely later in the year. I've asked if they would informally update before any formal determination as my contract falls beyond April.

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                    #10
                    Fine with me. If anyone else wants to add what is personally happening to them feel free to add it to this thread.

                    I imagine a lot of people posting on the Internet do so to complain or because they need reassurance. This distorts everyone's way of thinking - i.e. "crap...! Everyone out there is taking perm jobs and I'm not. I'm going to be screwed and get left behind".

                    I'm confident those that know their worth, have been sensible and can ride out the initial storm will be fine. I have no doubt a lot of good people will get taken out by this as well - it's going to be a mixed bag and no one knows what's going to happen. It boils down to your own personal situation and what you're prepared to do and accept.

                    Everyone rushing to pick up the few perm roles will just drive down salaries and play totally into these larger firms hands. This in turn also affects the real permies already there. These big companies know exactly what they're doing - they all talk to each other about what they're up to and they're taking the super lazy approach. Tbh I don't blame them - the sheer volume of headcount and such drastic changes of liability would make me worried if I was them as well. Though...I would take the time to listen to counter offers of being truly outside if you valued that person and need them to help your business.

                    I'm in the mind of "if the jobs you asked me to do was advertised as a full time perm position in the first place with a much lower salary I wouldn't have even applied to it. You asked for 6 months for my time and skills, you got it. You asked for more...you got it. Now the rules are changing to something I'm not happy with"

                    Anyone else care to share what's going on in their world?
                    Last edited by Anubis; 24 October 2019, 07:41.

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