Back to permieland - 1 month in

[PerfectStorm]

This return to office stuff will only happen if you let it.

For once all workers - employees and contractors alike - have the leverage here while the status quo is on your side, i.e. working remotely.

Watch out for those who will go back in a little too voluntarily, expecting their colleagues/suppliers to follow suit. These people are not your friends.

[PCTNN]

Lol so today's rumour is that one team (not mine) is being tracked to check how many days a week they come in the office.

Again, just a rumor that has emerged on today's stand up. Would it even be legal?

[northernladuk]

Lol so today's rumour is that one team (not mine) is being tracked to check how many days a week they come in the office.

Again, just a rumor that has emerged on today's stand up. Would it even be legal?

It's that old thing that just because someone doesn't like it they think it's illegal.

I think this one is heading for General.

[PCTNN]

No, dafty, I was just asking. I don't know much about labour law.

[malvolio]

Who cares, as long as the day rate is acceptable and the money comes in the bank account in time. That's all that matters.

No it's not. But clearly you will never understand that.

[GregRickshaw]

This return to office stuff will only happen if you let it.

For once all workers - employees and contractors alike - have the leverage here while the status quo is on your side, i.e. working remotely.

Watch out for those who will go back in a little too voluntarily, expecting their colleagues/suppliers to follow suit. These people are not your friends.

This is so true and what the OP actually did, for some reason they have been sort of criticised for doing so.

The work place has changed forever.

[northernladuk]

Substitute line manager for client and you have a fully qualified contractor armed with a pen and notebook ready to bill 1K a day for "consultancy services"

Having been a permie and a contractor I can tell you that many contractors and perms are indistinguishable.... Apart from a contractor coming in with client tattooed on his forehead and some business cards sticking to their soles of their shoes they do the same work day in and day out...

Thats in finance working for large fortune 500 companies - Maybe your experience is different where contractors were born or have special magical properties

No you don't. You have a guy that's substituting words but still doesn't understand a client/supplier relationship and what he is in that relationship. They will still have a perm head on which means they will not be able to understand basic situations as they will be thinking like a perm. When he gets the boot on the spot he will be on here asking what his rights are and wanting to take them down an unfair dismissal process for a start.

Changing words and being a proper contractor are worlds apart.

Who cares, as long as the day rate is acceptable and the money comes in the bank account in time. That's all that matters.

And that's why you are better off staying am moaning perm. It appears you don't understand contracting very well.

[kloos]

No you don't. You have a guy that's substituting words but still doesn't understand a client/supplier relationship and what he is in that relationship. They will still have a perm head on which means they will not be able to understand basic situations as they will be thinking like a perm. When he gets the boot on the spot he will be on here asking what his rights are and wanting to take them down an unfair dismissal process for a start.

Changing words and being a proper contractor are worlds apart.

Actually I get that. My current role is a cushtie number, and I realise that. I landed on my feet for my first contract, but just because they treat me like a member of staff doesn't mean that I am one. If I advise them to turn right and they turn left, who cares! As long as I made my point clearly and covered my back then I'm happy that I did my job. Client is a better word than boss or line manager, but essentially it means the same thing, ie the person who gives me the role and who I report feedback to and who decides whether I stay or not.

Don't think that getting the boot on the spot is reserved for contracts. My last 2 perm roles ended on the spot being escorted from the building (slightly more challenging for the 2nd one as it was remote). At least this time, if they end my contract I am armed and ready with pimps who know me already.

[PCTNN]

And that's why you are better off staying am moaning perm. It appears you don't understand contracting very well.

Sure sure, the true expert has spoken

If you think you understand something well, more often than not you're the most ignorant of the bunch.

Keep being you, never change. It's always fun to read your bulltulip

[northernladuk]

Actually I get that. My current role is a cushtie number, and I realise that. I landed on my feet for my first contract, but just because they treat me like a member of staff doesn't mean that I am one. If I advise them to turn right and they turn left, who cares! As long as I made my point clearly and covered my back then I'm happy that I did my job. Client is a better word than boss or line manager, but essentially it means the same thing, ie the person who gives me the role and who I report feedback to and who decides whether I stay or not.

No it doesn't and if you ever get an outside gig it's essential. They are not your boss at all so not the same thing and that mindset is essential to staying outside. It might seem simple as you've put it there but it's not and it's a good mindset to get in to early. We see it all the time on here. Where it might be pedantry at this point when certain situations occur permie thinking will produce one solution and contractor thinking will produce another.

Don't think that getting the boot on the spot is reserved for contracts. My last 2 perm roles ended on the spot being escorted from the building (slightly more challenging for the 2nd one as it was remote). At least this time, if they end my contract I am armed and ready with pimps who know me already.

And again you'd be wrong. You still have a contract of employment and there are rights connected to that. The actual physical act of being walked off site is one thing, there is the whole contracted thing in the background that is completely different. The fact you are still comparing the two is further evidence you don't get it.

And the pimps thing. Firstly, drop the word pimp. They are agents, Don't fall in to silly negative terminology before you even understand what you do. The fact you have some agents that know you means squat. It's not a head hunting world. The agent will only be interested if they have a gig for you. They don't go find you gigs. It's very uncommon to get work from the same agent you've previously worked on. You go with any agent that has a client with an opportunity. This is yet another change in mentality you have to get your head around.

You might have fallen in to a cushty number but it's not preparing you for contracting. You are just being a permie at another company. You've a lot of work to get this right. When you do it will benefit you enormously in the long run. You might not be able to see why now now but you will.

Yes I'm being harsh but it's important, trust me.

And a very key point..

but just because they treat me like a member of staff doesn't mean that I am one

In HMRC's eyes it does and that is the absolute key. It's them that are going to investigate you and the tax you like the perm the client thinks you are.