State of the Market

[KentDogWalker]

Security for 1.
A general dislike of any risk of overseas tax offices asking awkward questions for another.

if its outside contract, there is no employee insurance

[cwah]

The recruiter had no clue either and went back to talk to the client. Unfortunately he didn t call me back so it means a "no"

I'm not the only one clueless. Why crossing border immediately increase risk? I'm not going to work in a hostel with people behind me. But if that was the issue or privacy or data leak, it can happen as much inside the UK than outside.

[cwah]

if its outside contract, there is no employee insurance

In that specific case it was inside IR35. So insurance could have been the main issue. However I wouldn t class that as security risk but a legal one instead.

[northernladuk]

The recruiter had no clue either and went back to talk to the client. Unfortunately he didn t call me back so it means a "no"

I'm not the only one clueless. Why crossing border immediately increase risk? I'm not going to work in a hostel with people behind me. But if that was the issue or privacy or data leak, it can happen as much inside the UK than outside.

It's all about risk and there is a lot to be considered when you are taking client kit or accessing client systems and data from outside the UK. Much of it probably won't make sense to you but it's got to be assessed, understood by the client as they are ultimately responsible. I'm sure there are data laws and such like that need to be considered, your contract is also governed by UK law so if you arn't in the Uk that opens a can of worms as well. So many factors other factors to consider it just becomes too much for a client to bother about. They may for an employee but not for a contractor so the answer is UK or no. It's not totally unreasonable.

Could also be out of the clients hands such as insurances and the like. Could be something to do with the type/sensitivity of the data. Most gov departments won't let their data out of the country so you going aboad isn't going to work. It's possible with dispensation but why would they do that for a contractor?

You maybe right whatever happens is just as likely to happen in the UK but the client knows the situation and can stomach that risk. Once it goes abroad who knows what can pop out of the woodwork when it goes wrong and the risk to the client legally, reputationally and whatever goes up.

Just because you are a contractor it doesn't give you the god given right to work where you want for clients. If they don't want it, for whatever reasons they have, and plenty of reasons, then so be it. Might not make sense to you but it will to them and that's that.

[vwdan]

Anybody else noticing that the physical pace of recruitment has slowed, or am I just being unlucky? (Or lucky in the past)

Got a few plates spinning, but everybody seems to be dragging their feet. A few years ago if I didn't have an offer on the table within a week of hearing about the role, I could usually write it off as never happening but it's taking a week plus just to get in front of the client for a chat

[PCTNN]

Anybody else noticing that the physical pace of recruitment has slowed, or am I just being unlucky? (Or lucky in the past)

Got a few plates spinning, but everybody seems to be dragging their feet. A few years ago if I didn't have an offer on the table within a week of hearing about the role, I could usually write it off as never happening but it's taking a week plus just to get in front of the client for a chat

It's not just you, I'm experiencing the same. Everything is taking at least twice as long.

[cwah]

Isn't it the time of the tear where it starts to get slower? They are preparing for next year budget or so.

[northernladuk]

Isn't it the time of the tear where it starts to get slower? They are preparing for next year budget or so.

If it does get slower it's not budgets. More like furlough periods stopping work so no point taking someone on to start for two weeks then go on three week furlough till next year.

The whole point of planning budgets is they are there all year. Business needed projects don't slow down because of budget planning.

[cwah]

Hasn't furlough stopped since the 30th of september? May not be budget but can't see how furlough would impact business now and not earlier

[northernladuk]

Hasn't furlough stopped since the 30th of september? May not be budget but can't see how furlough would impact business now and not earlier

That's covid furlough. I must admit I hate the term furlough so not sure why I used it. I mean asking contractors not to work during business protection periods at xmas. There is usually long change freezes starting as early as mid Nov to focus on keeping the business working at the busiest time of the year so no need for the contracts if they can't change anything. Some clients ask contractors not to come in as early as first week in Dec. Minimum is week before xmas till Jan this year for most I'd say.

Depends on your industry but certainly true for retail.