A Sad “IR35” Day

[Peoplesoft bloke]

I have raised the question of post a April engagement at current gig as they are talking about a six month extension after Christmas. Clientco are very ignorant of the rules and think they are completely devoid of any responsibility and the agency will do all work and take all risks. Agency are saying pretty much the same, in reverse about clientco. It’s not encouraging.


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[BABABlackSheep]

This.

I've always had it been a bit of a selling point on my CV regarding training and/or mentoring of team members as part of the service i've provided. Several previous gigs have been extended solely on the basis of their permie staff needing more training/handover and generally speaking i've taken it.

Thanks for the people who have mentioned this. Updated my cv now to reflect.

Currently the decision is with the client, but they are not rushing to tell me the outcome.

I'm in limbo with agencies as they aren't promoting my cv as my end-date is still "negotiable" and they are only putting people forward who can start "immediately". Its a buyers market out there.

[Nut]

Training others is a big part of being a contractor. Take that extension.

This.

I've always had it been a bit of a selling point on my CV regarding training and/or mentoring of team members as part of the service i've provided. Several previous gigs have been extended solely on the basis of their permie staff needing more training/handover and generally speaking i've taken it.

[SussexSeagull]

Offshore consultancies are great up to the point your Business Expert changes their mind half way through the project and they quote how much more they will charge to change the system.

The banks are doing it as a way to cut contractor costs and the minute one did the rest were going to follow. Time will tell what it does for delivery but as I don't see them make up the shortfall with permanent employees I can see a stand off for a few months.

[AndrewK]

Wow this thread grew legs quickly

As someone who has previously worked for a consultancy(was IBM) for a long time, and have indeed been charged out to clients at stupid prices whilst there, and very familiar with WiPro and TSC as I work with them right now I can give my honest opinion.

Back in the day, the offshore model was absolutely terrible, and the standard of work was poor. However, lately, with my onshore colleagues, for especially development and testing, I've seen them do some fantastic work.

Personally, I'm a BA(clue in the name). One of the reasons I moved from more a technical infrastructure to Business Analysis career, is I saw the writing on the wall with the consultancies business model, but I didn't see that moving into the softer more business focused roles, mainly because of cultural differences. In other words, their BA's and PM's to a large extend I've not seen many of, and the the one's I have, I've not been that impressed. Solution Architects, I'm on the fence with. Some good, some not so good.

I haven't seen many ex IBMers/Cognizant/... who would say, you know we were/are all tools.

In my experience situation in the last 15 years hasn't improved at all.
Current project IBM infrastructure support - crap, Infosys developers - complete joke. Managed to do nothing in 6 months.
In the last project Cognizant developers - I was surprised they knew how to turn a computer on. Complete tools. Poster boys of outsourcing. It took 4 developers 2 weeks to do 2-hour job.
I would say it is now even worse. Younger generation of millennials don't even pretend they care. 0 motivation. I could go on and on.
I do not recall any good experience with any of the mentioned companies in last 15 years.
Like in any large corporation, they probably have some bright people somewhere. But they are hiding them very well.

[sal]

Meanwhile, given the nature of my opening post. I'll ask my "new" friends on here

What would you do, if you worked for one of the major banks who have just told everyone to go permie or go home, if you had another contract offer, but they wanted you to start in less than 2 weeks' whilst you are on a 4 week contract termination?

I wold take it and depending on relationship with the hiring manager at old ClientCo either be frank up front or serve 4 weeks notice and claim unavailability in the last 2 weeks. If they are trowing my under the IR35 bus I won't mind burning bridges etc. What comes around - goes around.

I have a duty to my shareholder

[BABABlackSheep]

Take it.

I've been in places where the contractor bunked off the last four weeks through 'illness'.

BITD I would have been more professional - but it's a dog eat dog world out there and if the clients are doing this I would cut my losses on not getting my last invoice paid and leave.

Current place pays weekly..

Not got anything yet, but I have to give a short notice period to get an interview.

If I get a sniff of anything in the present market, going to take it.

[hammertime1985]

Take it.

I've been in places where the contractor bunked off the last four weeks through 'illness'.

BITD I would have been more professional - but it's a dog eat dog world out there and if the clients are doing this I would cut my losses on not getting my last invoice paid and leave.

just done this myself. If you're on good terms with the client simply state in light of your decision I have found an opportunity elsewhere which is outside and I have advised them I'm starting in two weeks. I hope you don't mind.

[cojak]

Meanwhile, given the nature of my opening post. I'll ask my "new" friends on here

What would you do, if you worked for one of the major banks who have just told everyone to go permie or go home, if you had another contract offer, but they wanted you to start in less than 2 weeks' whilst you are on a 4 week contract termination?

Take it.

I've been in places where the contractor bunked off the last four weeks through 'illness'.

BITD I would have been more professional - but it's a dog eat dog world out there and if the clients are doing this I would cut my losses on not getting my last invoice paid and leave.

[Paralytic]

Meanwhile, given the nature of my opening post. I'll ask my "new" friends on here

What would you do, if you worked for one of the major banks who have just told everyone to go permie or go home, if you had another contract offer, but they wanted you to start in less than 2 weeks' whilst you are on a 4 week contract termination?

Is the contract also with LBG or with a new client?

It would depend on their documented approach to IR35 and length of contract.