Generally I try to avoid it because, in my experience, clients are never willing to pay contractor rates for this. They might pay a day rate thats 3x what the permies get in salary but try getting 3x what the permies get for oncall. Very rare.
Of course, if you're in an inside gig via umbrella, £100 (example) to you is less in your pocket (because you have to pay employer NI out of this) than if you pay £100 to a permie. But clients don't get this.
My approach has always been, yes I'll help out occasionally, even do it for free now and again. Sort of like a "good will" added extra thing. Of course, depends on the client, if they're a nightmare then I don't offer. Also depends how hard the on call is.
Current client is excellent. On call is easy. So I do on call on an occasional basis. We have a gentlemans agreement for TOIL if I do it but, in all honesty, its not a great deal but I do it as a favour. To be honest, as above the permies probably get more in their pocket for a days oncall than I do in effect. But they're base salaries are appalling so this is one of their perks I guess.
Found out yesterday that another contractor in another team gets 1/2 the TOIL that I do and does it one week in two. Insane. Rather him than me.
Just wondering how everyone else deals with it?
1) Refuse to do on call.
2) Do it for free.
3) Do it like me - for crap TOIL deal.
4) Insist on proper rate for on call (like 3x perm rate).
Of course, if you're in an inside gig via umbrella, £100 (example) to you is less in your pocket (because you have to pay employer NI out of this) than if you pay £100 to a permie. But clients don't get this.
My approach has always been, yes I'll help out occasionally, even do it for free now and again. Sort of like a "good will" added extra thing. Of course, depends on the client, if they're a nightmare then I don't offer. Also depends how hard the on call is.
Current client is excellent. On call is easy. So I do on call on an occasional basis. We have a gentlemans agreement for TOIL if I do it but, in all honesty, its not a great deal but I do it as a favour. To be honest, as above the permies probably get more in their pocket for a days oncall than I do in effect. But they're base salaries are appalling so this is one of their perks I guess.
Found out yesterday that another contractor in another team gets 1/2 the TOIL that I do and does it one week in two. Insane. Rather him than me.
Just wondering how everyone else deals with it?
1) Refuse to do on call.
2) Do it for free.
3) Do it like me - for crap TOIL deal.
4) Insist on proper rate for on call (like 3x perm rate).
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