How much better off are we?

[contractor79]

I was once told in one of those "let's mark you down as below average for this criteria, then next time in 6 months we'll put you at above average. That will look good for you, as it shows an improvement".

Then at another one I asked "is performance review linked to pay review?". They were stunned with the question, their answer was a lengthy waffle (translation = no).

Nah, forget all that. Just let me cane the job and give me the cash, I'm a simple creature like that
Not really looking for a self-esteem approval- we get that from contract extensions anyway

[expat]

Not really looking for a self-esteem approval- we get that from contract extensions anyway

Hear! Hear!

This is one place where I agree with Ayn Rand: paying you money is the one sure sign that they value you.

[bobhope]

Exactly, not doing performance reviews every 6 months or so is worth a couple of grand to me.

[Fred Bloggs]

In my line of work permie rates are effectively capped at about ~£48k a year. If I was still in my last permie job (5 years ago) my salary would be about £38k a year. My day rate is £400 and I work (I hope!) 44 weeks a year. I put a grand a month into a SIPP and I reckon I am still about a grand ahead of what I would be taking home now from my last permie job. The actual work I do if fairly similar, just a lot more short term jobs. I like what I do and I would hate to return to permi-dom. That's worth a few bob to me too

[Dow Jones]

Never say Never

From what I've seen so far the most enthusiastic ones are those from previously so-called 'junior' permie roles earning around £ 30k or less. I can see the obvious financial benefits to them as well as the new 'glamorous' lifestyle (flashy cars/clothes/etc). If you've done all that and one day you are offered say anything between £ 50-60k plus to work locally then as I previously explained, you may no longer then be better off carrying on contracting. Again for the new entrants, when you calculate your earnings, you work out over 45 weeks p/a x anything between 70-80% over the years (allowing for the rest 20-30% is bench time, enforced or not). I am not saying that you are not better off, all I am saying is that people should look at their personal circumstances and not try and jump on the bandwagon, especially now that it's showing signs of slowdown. Likely to see a lot of desperate contractors pleading for an ever diminishing pool of pertmie jobs.

[expat]

My problem is that I can't seem to find contracts in the UK, so I'm off to Holland, Germany, or Switzerland every week. Family home remains UK, not about to change, it's just a given. So I have substantial commuting costs in time and money (and the pleasure of paying taxes at UK rates or higher, wherever I work).

I just worked out my net hourly rate after taxes and costs, including commute times. Ouch!

[TheBigYinJames]

If you've done all that and one day you are offered say anything between £ 50-60k plus to work locally then as I previously explained, you may no longer then be better off carrying on contracting.

I always think this will be a an age-related decision for me - at some point I will just get fed up contracting. but it hasn't happened yet, but then I turn 40 next summer, so maybe I'll start thinking more about it.

[expat]

I always think this will be a an age-related decision for me - at some point I will just get fed up contracting. but it hasn't happened yet, but then I turn 40 next summer, so maybe I'll start thinking more about it.

Not me Jim, I turn 58 next summer and am beginning to hope that I will never have to work permie again.

[TheBigYinJames]

Not me Jim, I turn 58 next summer and am beginning to hope that I will never have to work permie again.

Well part of me dreads the idea of 'settling' for a perm role. I think because our industry is quite young and there aren't a great many older 50s+ contractors around, you get the idea that you can't do it when you're old. I hope that's not true.

[lambrini_socialist]

and the pleasure of paying taxes at UK rates or higher, wherever I work)

that's weird. judging from what i read on this board, i assumed that the UK must be the most highly taxed country in all of europe. don't tell me this isn't the case?