Contract v perm question

[simplicity]

Just got an offer of a 12 month contract at £400 pd. Been perm for the last year and a half but the job is very stressful, long 9 hour days, weekends worked etc with no over time. I took on a lot of extra work which my boss said was only for a short time but 4 months later the workload is the same. No transparent pay structure is in place and I've had no pay rise since joining the company. When I've asked for a rise I've been told there is no budget but yet I see contractors invoices showing they are getting £1k a day.

It's a large global company so not public sector with budget issues. The role I took was advertised 60-65k but I was offered 57k and took it. Agent said there's a good bonus structure in place and I will soon get pay rise. 18 months later this hasn't happened. I'm tired of asking - it's tedious.

Today I resigned but wonder if I'm doing the right thing. What would you do? Take the contract or stick as an over worked permie?

[SueEllen]

1. Agents always lie
2. Employers lie about their bonus scheme
3. Contractors on £1000 per day are getting less than that

[Kraut]

Today I resigned but wonder if I'm doing the right thing. What would you do? Take the contract or stick as an over worked permie?

You're asking in a contractor forum. The advice may be biased. I'll make a start: Take the contract! (If you are aware of and happy with the risks.)
Resigning was the right thing to do anyway, as they have been lying to you and have no intention to give you a pay rise; you've been rather patient (compared to myself).

[MrMarkyMark]

You have resigned....good luck

[northernladuk]

Well your buggered if the advice is to stay permie lol..

You do understand you can get binned from the gig almost effectively so 12 months doesn't mean 12 months etc.. You understand how you get paid, IR35, AWR, small business accounting and the fact you are a business and you have clients now and so on?

[MrMarkyMark]

Well your buggered if the advice is to stay permie lol..

You do understand you can get binned from the gig almost effectively so 12 months doesn't mean 12 months etc.. You understand how you get paid, IR35, AWR, small business accounting and the fact you are a business and you have clients now and so on?

Sounds like a little research should be done, I think its all covered on here

[simplicity]

Sounds like a little research should be done, I think its all covered on here

Yes I understand - I was a contractor for 10 years before taking last perm role.

[NotAllThere]

Yes I understand - I was a contractor for 10 years before taking last perm role.

Then why are you even asking! But if you were a contractor, you must know that this is wrong:

...I see contractors invoices showing they are getting £1k a day. ..

It is their agencies who are getting £1K a day.

[simplicity]

Then why are you even asking! But if you were a contractor, you must know that this is wrong:

It is their agencies who are getting £1K a day.

Ok I understand that but my point is that it seems the company don't want to pay me more but they have the money to pay agencies £1k a day.

[Hobosapien]

Ok I understand that but my point is that it seems the company don't want to pay me more but they have the money to pay agencies £1k a day.

The reasons for that may be similar to why companies use contractors instead of just getting more permies. It's not just about the overall costs to the client. e.g. they can argue that the £1k a day is a time limited overhead where if your salary was increased that would be 'forever'.

There's a lot said about being ignorant of what others get paid as there's only so much you can do about it anyway. But now you've found out you're in that state of trying to do something about it. Good luck, hope there's plenty of contract work out there for a long time to come.