Monthly or weekly pay?

[testlad]

17% is very high. In over 7 years I have never been subjected to more than 12%. The acceptable level in my opinion is 10%.
At the end of the day if you are happy with your rate then that is all that really matters.

[tim123]

Re: 17% is very high.

You guys obviously live in an entirely different world to me.

For what I do (real-time embedded) getting a margin of under 20% is often an achievement. It's not un-common for agents to be unprepared to go below 15% and if you try too hard you will lose the job (telling you that the job has been pulled and the client that you've gone elsewhere) and usual for them to look for 25%.

3 of my colleagues here have left because they discovered that the agent was stiffing them for 28%, and yes they did ask, they were told (lied to) that it was 18%. Realistically, what do you do when this happens? In the recent market they know that you won't walk with no other job to go to.

This idea that 17% is on the high side may be the rule in what you do, but across the total range of contractors it just doesn't apply. Not in the world where there are no PSLs with fixed margins and individual managers recruite their positions through the one or two 'consultants' that they like dealing with.

tim

[cooperinliverp00l]

Re: 17% is very high.

does an agency have to tell you there margin if you ask them. I always throught that it would be a bit cheeky asking them. But then i am also new to this game with only a year under my belt.

[mailmannz]

Re: 17% is very high.

IF you havent been bribed by the agents to opt out of the new regs you can always go direct at the completion of the contract. Thus cutting them lose and gaining yourself a nice little pay rise.

The agents cannot with hold money (which they probably will try) OR force you to sign back on with them (unless there is a provision in your contract allowing them to be gradually phased out) nor can they force you to leave the client (restraint of trade, unless site specific are wholly unenforceable).

If you decide to go down this route you might want to get some "proper" legal advice. You will only need 10 or so minutes of a lawyers time so it shouldnt cost you too much in the end. Certainly the agents will most likely try it on with you but in reality there isnt a lot they can do.

However, if you have opted out...then you are rooted. You can thank the PCG for that one.

Check out www.john.antell.name/article011.htm for more info on the regs.

Mailman