Perm to contract - what would you do?

[Boo]

...Would appreciate thoughts/experiences

1. Get paid
2. Go sick
3. Start contract
4. If contract pans out stay with that
5. Else go back to work

Boo

[TheFaQQer]

Then I guess you know all about the dividend tax coming in next April, and you've already contributed to the potential travel and subsistence tax that's in the consultative stage?

I'm pleased that some people have done their research before making the move...

Given that only 85 responses were made to the last T&S consultation, I'm going to suggest not.

With the uncertainty about the expenses and the IR35 consultation, unless the permie job is crap and the contract is great, I'd seriously consider the wisdom of moving into contracting while that's going on.

[SimonMac]

My thoughts?

Stay permie - you might be giving a real contractor a nice cushy job for a couple of years.

FTFY

[SimonMac]

Truthfully, yes. Relying on 20 years with long service, excellent reputation and a leap of faith. I've got the bug, and the pragmatic view that everyone needs to start somewhere . Plus, I keep looking at my perm daily rate, compared to contract daily rate - apples and pears I know, but....

[SimonMac]

Unless you have a bum on seat you don't "have" your contract, there are dozens of examples where its fallen through at the last minute

[SimonMac]

Oh, and good luck!

[SueEllen]

1. Get paid
2. Go sick
3. Start contract
4. If contract pans out stay with that
5. Else go back to work

Boo

- Get seen by some random person in the office at supermarket, night out, etc
- Random person "innocently" tells someone else
- Get telephoned/visited because HR are "concerned" about you
- Get done for gross misconduct and sacked

The problem is a 3 month notice period is too long to risk this sort of behave over especially as the OP told them he wanted to leave.

Oh and if you, OP, do get sick in that time period or have some other misfortune get third party official evidence.

[LondonManc]

Truthfully, yes. Relying on 20 years with long service, excellent reputation and a leap of faith. I've got the bug, and the pragmatic view that everyone needs to start somewhere . Plus, I keep looking at my perm daily rate, compared to contract daily rate - apples and pears I know, but....

If day rate is you're main reason for going contracting, you're doing it for the wrong reason. Financially the rewards can be good, but similarly if you're benched for six months it can be stressful.

Consultancy may be a safer option initially.

[Boo]

- Get seen by some random person in the office at supermarket, night out, etc
- Random person "innocently" tells someone else

Possible but unlikely.

- Get telephoned/visited because HR are "concerned" about you

Never happened in the entire history of mankind.

- Get done for gross misconduct and sacked

You've just left to start a new contract, remember ? Meh...

Boo2

[TheFaQQer]

Never happened in the entire history of mankind.

Bilge.