Why?

[ckms]

Why do so many contractors disguise themselves as permies? Wherever I go I seem to be surrounded by permietractors who want the best of both worlds. As a result the line managers don't know how to respond when I attempt to get across that I am not here to get caught up in company politics, staff disputes and general sh1te that was part and parcel of being a permie in years gone by!

I simply want to deliver my work in accordance with the terms of my contract but instead I am seen as dusruptive to the team environment! Other contractors however don't even understand how or even why they are working through ltd cos.

Oh and I also got told the permies don't like being paid less than me! In my experience as soon as the day rate is mentioned there's usually no way back.

Rant over. Have a nice evening

[NotAllThere]

...as soon as the day rate is mentioned there's usually no way back.

That's easily fixed by ensuring you always get the first round in.

[pauldee]

Oh and I also got told the permies don't like being paid less than me!

I really don't get this attitude. Everyone has the option of contracting. I knew the score when I was a permie and I was fine with it.

[mookiemoo]

There are two types of contractors:

1. Contractors who contract because they can't find a permie job and are purely in it for the money. These are the ones who tend to stay at one client full time for years and behave as you see. I suspect a lot of people in this category don't want to admit it.

2. Contractors who contract because they want to contract. These are the ones who act the way you and I do (and probably a lot of people on this site do).

[northernladuk]

I really don't get this attitude. Everyone has the option of contracting. I knew the score when I was a permie and I was fine with it.

Why don't you? It's a natural human reaction. Everyone gets pissed off when someone is paid more.

Very short sighted think that. I hope you put more effort in to understanding your client and its staff when you are in site.

[LondonManc]

There are two types of contractors:

1. Contractors who contract because they can't find a permie job and are purely in it for the money. These are the ones who tend to stay at one client full time for years and behave as you see. I suspect a lot of people in this category don't want to admit it.

2. Contractors who contract because they want to contract. These are the ones who act the way you and I do (and probably a lot of people on this site do).

More the case of needing a job, any job, gizza job please. They then max out everything and get stuck in the contracting lifestyle to keep going with their new level of disposable income.

Agreed - they have a permie mindset still and don't seem to get that a contractor is, in effect, a one-man consultancy and needs to behave like it. These are also the exact people who will piss and moan when IR35 off payroll rules smash them for six because they're part and parcel and taking advantage of permie offers.

[sal]

And then there is the type of contractors that act all superior, point blank refusing to have anything to do with the office dynamics and keep flaunting their day rate around.

The correct path is in the middle, just because you are not a permie(tractor) doesn't mean you can ignore what's going on in the office. The relationship with your client doesn't end with whoever signs your timesheets.

Re the day rate envy - there is a simple solution - don't mention it. If some permie manage to find it and start moaning about it, tell him you are using umbrella and pay the same level of tax as him, but don't have holiday/sick pay and can be sacked on the spot.

[LondonManc]

And then there is the type of contractors that act all superior, point blank refusing to have anything to do with the office dynamics and keep flaunting their day rate around.

The correct path is in the middle, just because you are not a permie(tractor) doesn't mean you can ignore what's going on in the office. The relationship with your client doesn't end with whoever signs your timesheets.

Re the day rate envy - there is a simple solution - don't mention it. If some permie manage to find it and start moaning about it, tell him you are using umbrella and pay the same level of tax as him, but don't have holiday/sick pay and can be sacked on the spot.

Yep - never mentioned my day rate to permies. If they grumble about it, mention sick pay, holiday pay, redundancy, training, etc as a trade off and explain the differences in working politely. Never had any problems from permies in that sense once they are made aware of the pitfalls of contracting.

[pauldee]

Yep - never mentioned my day rate to permies. If they grumble about it, mention sick pay, holiday pay, redundancy, training, etc as a trade off and explain the differences in working politely. Never had any problems from permies in that sense once they are made aware of the pitfalls of contracting.

Or just ask them why they don't take the contracting route. At which point they'll say 'because of sick pay, holiday pay, redundancy, training, etc...'

[psychocandy]

And then there is the type of contractors that act all superior, point blank refusing to have anything to do with the office dynamics and keep flaunting their day rate around.

The correct path is in the middle, just because you are not a permie(tractor) doesn't mean you can ignore what's going on in the office. The relationship with your client doesn't end with whoever signs your timesheets.

Re the day rate envy - there is a simple solution - don't mention it. If some permie manage to find it and start moaning about it, tell him you are using umbrella and pay the same level of tax as him, but don't have holiday/sick pay and can be sacked on the spot.

Spot on. No client EVER wants a contractor who flounces around, thinks they;'re special and upsets the permies.

Got to be nice to the permies. You might be the best technically in the world but if a few moaning permies get in the managers ear you won't last.