Rate increase

[Cookielove]

Coming up to a year at client, took a rate last Feb based on it being a 3 month gig. Been extended several times a few months at a time is what client offers...is it reasonable to ask for rate rise as I am coming up to a year? They are tight though so am not that hopeful they will say yes...

[jamesbrown]

Sure it is, but be prepared to walk if the client doesn't want to pay and you're undervalued (according to you/your research). Each new contract is a new negotiation.

[Lance]

Yes



No



Depends...



Really??? You think we can help???
It's your client. You've been on these boards a while now so know all the stock answers (or you should do). Outside of those stock answers (are you actually worth more? are you actually doing more? have you asked the agent? have you put your CV on the market?) there's sod all we can help with as it's your gig and your client.

Tell them you want more or you're leaving is the only approach. Whether that's with an offer on the table from elsewhere is down to your risk.

If you ask and are willing to stay without it, and they know this, then don't waste your time. They're a business not a charity, and so are you.

[Guy Incognito]

Personally I always negotiate very hard at the start on rate because increases draw attention.

Obviously you can ask, but I personally I think having another gig lined up is the only way to get the leverage you need.

[northernladuk]

Yes



No



Depends...



Really??? You think we can help???
It's your client. You've been on these boards a while now so know all the stock answers (or you should do). Outside of those stock answers (are you actually worth more? are you actually doing more? have you asked the agent? have you put your CV on the market?) there's sod all we can help with as it's your gig and your client.

Tell them you want more or you're leaving is the only approach. Whether that's with an offer on the table from elsewhere is down to your risk.

If you ask and are willing to stay without it, and they know this, then don't waste your time. They're a business not a charity, and so are you.

What he says. There is no right answer, it's purely situational and also depends on the people, mainly you.

It is reasonable as long as you've done some due diligene and the situation dictates it. It's not reaspnable to ask just because. You've got to understand why you are asking and how it might play out. You can't just ask as you feel you deserve it.

Firstly, you don't ask. You tell them what the rate will be. If they say no you have to be prepared to walk. If you aren't the agent will just play you like a fiddle. If they had a pound for every contractor that 'asked' for a rate rise and beat them down they'd fabulously rich. You've got to threaten their revenue stream to make it worth their while.

You have to have a good reason for asking. Why are you worth more? Moved positions, delivering more, were on poor rate before. Usually none of these will apply to a continuing gig. Staying more than three months isn't a reason either. The best reason is the agent has made enough commission to cover the effort and cost getting you. It's all free money from them now so you are squeezing their commission. They may give you a few 10's more to stop pestering them rather than face having to resource again. But, and it's a big but, you need to know if they are on fixed commission or they've pulled your pants down with some random percentage they came up with. If it's fixed then you have absolutely zero chance of a rise so might as well stop the whole thing dead right now. A smart contractor would have found out what their commission is first and then targetted that.

So you see, is it reasonable to expect a rate rise for nothing? No. Is it reasonable to appy the pressure when you know there is money to be had, of course, but it's situational and you need to manage it.

[Cookielove]

The agency is on a fixed amount it’s not a percentage, I checked that out already. Seen the invoices.
I’ve sussed out a lot over last year don’t want to say too much but my boss is 100% lazy does zilch uses contractors to cover his work and some...fair enough that’s how the cookie crumbles. ? However I know through my role what he is paid he’s also a contractor as is his boss...they awarded themselves huge pay rises recently and do nada. Their monthly pay is mind boggling. But they are foreign and tight as hell with all the brits working as temps ...they are the decision makers and feathering their nests v nicely! Meanwhile we do all the work and they have refused increases before when our work changed. It’s one rule for them and one for the rest of us...feel hacked off ! To put it in perspective they earn more than double what we earn and my boss’s boss is earning treble ...it’s quite unbelievable ?

[rocktronAMP]

The agency is on a fixed amount it’s not a percentage, I checked that out already. Seen the invoices.
I’ve sussed out a lot over last year don’t want to say too much but my boss is 100% lazy does zilch uses contractors to cover his work and some...fair enough that’s how the cookie crumbles. ? However I know through my role what he is paid he’s also a contractor as is his boss...they awarded themselves huge pay rises recently and do nada. Their monthly pay is mind boggling. But they are foreign and tight as hell with all the brits working as temps ...they are the decision makers and feathering their nests v nicely! Meanwhile we do all the work and they have refused increases before when our work changed. It’s one rule for them and one for the rest of us...feel hacked off ! To put it in perspective they earn more than double what we earn and my boss’s boss is earning treble ...it’s quite unbelievable ?

Well if that is how you really feel. Then GTFO is the only way it changes. "If the organisation is not changing, then change the organisation" or something like that as I remember it.

[northernladuk]

The agency is on a fixed amount it’s not a percentage, I checked that out already. Seen the invoices.

You mean fixed amount regardless of whether they put a 200 quid or a 500 quid contractor in? Fair enough if you are sure. If that is the case then there is no where to ask for a rise from. The client certainly won't pay it has they have set rate cards and the agent can't so your problem has just disappeared.

I’ve sussed out a lot over last year don’t want to say too much but my boss is 100% lazy does zilch uses contractors to cover his work and some...fair enough that’s how the cookie crumbles. ?

Sounds like a smart guy to me to be fair

However I know through my role what he is paid he’s also a contractor as is his boss...they awarded themselves huge pay rises recently and do nada. Their monthly pay is mind boggling. But they are foreign and tight as hell with all the brits working as temps ...they are the decision makers and feathering their nests v nicely! Meanwhile we do all the work and they have refused increases before when our work changed. It’s one rule for them and one for the rest of us...feel hacked off ! To put it in perspective they earn more than double what we earn and my boss’s boss is earning treble ...it’s quite unbelievable ?

Hmm. I'm finding that a bit hard to believe. Contractors rarely get a say in rates whatever the level. Something doesn't sound right about this.

Regardless of all that, not your problem and nothing you can do about it. You can dwell on it and let it ruin a perfectly good contract or you can forget it and just get on doing what you agreed to do for the amount of money which you also agreed to. Everyone elses rate is no business of yours. If it bothers you that much then leave but you'll only end up in another gig, doing the same thing for the same money so got to rise above it. Contractors being shafted is common place and this doesn't sound like a particularly bad example.

[Cookielove]

It is right at Northernlad ...my boses boss is the CFO he is a contractor as is my boss. They worked together in a previous life! He has unlimited sign off so they are basically stealing a living is how it’s been described ! It’s not hard to find out their company name and see the invoices ?

[northernladuk]

It is right at Northernlad ...my boses boss is the CFO he is a contractor as is my boss. They worked together in a previous life! He has unlimited sign off so they are basically stealing a living is how it’s been described ! It’s not hard to find out their company name and see the invoices ?

Well if what you say is true then you are working for a truely tulip client and you need to move on. I don't know why you've spent the time looking up their companies and then going to find the invoices to them. Sounds like all you are doing is poisoning a half decent contract. Sounds like this is nothing to do with money. You are pissed off with your client and your only two options are to suck it up or leave.