State of the Market

[agentzero]

You aren't out of WORK. You are out of CONTRACT. Your work is running your business. Is a guy running a shop out of work when he's not selling something to a customer? Is he out of work when he's closed the shop and can't sell anything doing inventory, cash etc?

In a downturn your advice is rubbish.

With hindsight SchumiStars should've MVLd their company, if they didn't already do that, and applied for whatever benefits they are entitled to. Your libertarian leanings mean you often post silly advice across this forum. We pay a lot of tax, many contractors being in the top 10%, top 5%, top 1%, and there is no shame in applying for what you are entitled to. If you prefer to use up your savings during a downturn worse than the 2008 crisis feel free, but it is a 10 minute job to make a limited company dormant and doesn't cost much to MVL if you have doubts about outside ir35 work. Anyone in this position who doubts their ability to get an outside ir35 contract should be speaking to their account ASAP and performing whatever necessary to organise their affairs effectively.

If inside ir35 is the most likely outcome they should still be claiming whatever they are entitled to. There is no shame in it and folk like you will be quick enough to claim any free NHS vaccines or investigations you are entitled to based on age and medical condition, free bus pass, any one of the range of benefits available to the over 50s.

Get a contract within a fortnight of doing all the effect? Lucky you. 3 years out of work? Unfortunately, at least you've got extra cash and some things paid for. A lot of the advice you have given across this forum for a very long time is typical of an opinionated man and outright incorrect, it's about time you are called out for it.

[agentzero]

^^^^Permie disguised as contractor right here!!! ^^^^

Throwing in the Brexit reference as well. Laughable. Is it any surprise that HMRC thinks we are all disguised employees with this kind of thinking/approach?

I think this guy has indicated from his posts that English is his third language, so I would cut him a break. Maybe you should get the duolingo out while on the Spanish bench.

[oliverson]

I think this guy has indicated from his posts that English is his third language, so I would cut him a break. Maybe you should get the duolingo out while on the Spanish bench.

Ah, another remoaner! You and herman should go on a date.

[WTFH]

Ah, another remoaner! You and herman should go on a date.

And you should maybe take a break and think about your words and actions.

[Dorkeaux]

I find the contract work I've taken since well before COVID follows the pattern Herman describes.

My clients say two days a week during the contract negotiations, but the actually don't want me in the office once the contract starts.

The nature of the work has adapted. Even if you do go into the central London office everyone around you is wearing headphones on Teams calls or head down working at the screen.

That's funny. I just got renewed for another year. Few of my colleagues ever go to the office the one "onsite day" at the Dutch big four bank I contract to. I've been there exactly twice so far in 4 1/2 years. A third attempt to go into the office turned into just a weed run and I ended up working from the Dutch hotel as there was nobody on the team there that day.

Two of my team members just got promoted this week and new staff will come onboard to replace them. From what I hear my team is not an exception.

I just read the Dutch government plans to expand immigration to make up for a massive labour shortage.

You really don't think the issue might be this little mistake they call brexit? The government seems to think so but can't seem to change enoigh of the public's mind. Instead, they are left with tacing the citizens to death.

[herman_g]

I find the contract work I've taken since well before COVID follows the pattern Herman describes.

My clients say two days a week during the contract negotiations, but the actually don't want me in the office once the contract starts.

The nature of the work has adapted. Even if you do go into the central London office everyone around you is wearing headphones on Teams calls or head down working at the screen.

When they first started talking about going back to the office once a week, the other option was just to have a night out once every two weeks. It was explained the purpose was not to get people into the office but, rather, to gain something from people spending time together. It was decided Tuesdays in the office was fine but the manager stressed he want people to sit on teams all day. He explained the bank was very happy with the productivity increase since WFH began.

The first time I went into the office, I found they had some strange standard for connecting monitors and I was unable to use anything but my small laptop monitor. It was noisy and little got done. At home, I have the big screen and two 32 inch monitors and it's quiet. I am able to put in a really great day's work and still manage do some trading. When I my manager asked me how the day went late in the afternoon, I told him I got nothing done. His response was "that's ok - it's not why you're here.

When I have teams meetings with one of the guys who likes to go Tuesdays because his son's school is close to the office, nothing gets accomplished. It's noisy with other guys around him and he is almost whispering.

It's clear the working world has moved beyond working in the office and it's only a good thing.

Companies are happy and so are the staff - us independant contracters are happy as well (put that in for my HMRC loving Oliverson since I clearly can't be part of a scrum team with other members and I can't have a boss or colleagues).