Originally posted by Cowboy Bob
The big red flags for me are:
(1) How do you see yourself fitting into the team?
To me this implies that I would have to work to similar hours and terms set by the programme manager (eeek, client control!) in the interests in conformity and fairness (can't have someone walking out at 3pm to work at home office if the rest are glued to their office chairs until after 6pm because on site hours are specified in thier contracts).
Don't mind if I'm asked:
(2) how do you operate when working with or in a team (which is deliverable focused and doesn't imply conformity to a culture or imply that I form part of that organisation's programme team). Carefully questioning required here whichever way its presented, in case they ask the second but mean the first.
Other red flags:
(3) Before we make an offer, do you have any holidays planned?
IR35 exempt answer: This question doesn't apply to me. In any event, I've always fitted my holidays around my deliverables and usually take these between contracts like any business. (Strong pointer to irrelevance of question, but politely given).
(What I mean is: the heck has it got to do with you, I do have rights of substitution you know).
IR35 inclusive answer: Er... I would like to take two weeks off in July to go to Spain, if I may.
(4) Would you consider taking the role permanently?
IR35 exempt answer: I'm in business on my own account and have been for x years. I don't have plans to wind down my company.
(What I mean is: F*** Off you corporate clone).
On site red flags:
Office with your own permanent desk and computer set up or worst still, name on the door.
Forms to fill in on holiday plans whereabouts charts.
Your name appears on the org chart with a client given job title (which should never appear on your EBs contract with you either).
Having to hire or manage suppliers/staff that are not hired through your own company.
OK forms - Confidentiality Agreements, conforming to Health and Safety codes whilst on site (carefully crossing out any generic reference to [client name staff] on both).
Red flags to avoid:
Taking advantage of the staff canteen regularly, unless invited as part of a meeting.
Ditto sports club and other staff facilities.
Paid for parties and other staff events.
Team building awaydays with no particular deliverable purpose except team bonding.
General weekly status meetings when you have no 'actions' outstanding, therefore no real purpose to be there. You can always read the report afterwards if your job requires you to know what's going on.
Going out the client's other clients and having to introduce yourself as [name, from client company]. Always insist on using your own company or trade name and tell the visitor you are seeing that you are [name] from [own company] visiting on [client name's behalf].
Leaving do's and goodbye drinks when the contract ends. Very naff and implies you've left an organisation (which you never joined in the first place) rather than finishing off a series of deliverables outlined on your SoWs and hope to come back again when the work picks up. By all means take advantage if you actually are an IR35 inclusive though, but avoid if not. In any event it's quite hard to come back again, if you were bought a leaving pressie and drinks only two months ago but the work picks up again, so there's a psychological advantage to ending the contract discretely without any fuss or long goodbyes because those you worked alongside won't expect you back - at least not so soon in order to justify the fuss they made of you. Not good for business. By all means thank the client personally if he sends out an e-mail telling everyone you are going, but don't encourage that edge of finality yourself by sending out ta ta invites for drinks. The time for any IR35 exempter to get their wallet or purse out to do some serious smoozing is when they are trying to drum up new business not when the current business comes to an end.
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