Rate increase

[Cookielove]

It’s a 5 minute job is you know what you are doing ...there are several of us narked off it’s not just me it’s a wider group ! Thanks though for some input food for thought ?

[Paralytic]

It’s a 5 minute job is you know what you are doing ...there are several of us narked off it’s not just me it’s a wider group ! Thanks though for some input food for thought ?

It's quite simple. If what you are saying is true, and the bosses are doing no work, and you (and others) are doing all the work, then don't renew at next contract negotiation without a big increase. From what you've described, you've got them over a barrel and they'll have to increase your rate or they'll be found out.

Follow that approach, and you'll soon find out where you stand. For what its worth, my experience is that very few people are not easily replaceable, even if it causes a bit of short term pain.

[TheDude]

very few people are not easily replaceable, even if it causes a bit of short term pain.

A lot of contractors lose sight of this as soon as they start trousering (what they think is) a decent rate.

[Guy Incognito]

Form a union! Oh wait...

[Snooky]

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 ?

My only rule as a contractor has been "am I satisfied with what I get out of this arrangement?" - if so, great; if not, I either try and negotiate an improved rate or I move on elsewhere, assuming I can find a better contract (and that's not always money).

I've never fretted about what anyone else is making. It's not something I can change and it'd only wind me up if I knew someone doing less than me was being paid twice what I make. As a contractor you have to look out for yourself and in my book that means doing something about it if you're not happy, because nobody else will look after you.

I don't know what kind of work you do or what the market is like at the moment? If you think you can find something better, go for it and don't look back.

[WayOverDunne]

Apologies if this is the wrong place but I'm hoping to hop onto this thread as it's a similar subject to a question I have. I'm a first time contractor, and I'm coming up to the end of my contract in a few weeks. The client has said there's only budget to cover getting some projects over the line before some contractual deadlines they have with their clients. (These deadlines have been always beyond the date I was contracted until). My main point of contact does seem to be genuinely gutted to not be able to keep me on longer and we have a great working relationship.

If I choose to accept the renewal for two more months I'll likely have to look for a new contract in the summer whereas if were to walk now I might be in a better position to get a longer contract straight away and spend less time on the bench overall.

My query is, would it be out of order for me to go back to the agency and say that to accept the renewal I'd want a larger cut of what they're charging to the client? I've heard of some contractors doing this and spoken to some friends who work in recruitment but ideally I don't want to proceed in a way that poisons a well or is an overly short term approach.

Any guidance greatly appreciated!

[northernladuk]

Apologies if this is the wrong place but I'm hoping to hop onto this thread as it's a similar subject to a question I have. I'm a first time contractor, and I'm coming up to the end of my contract in a few weeks. The client has said there's only budget to cover getting some projects over the line before some contractual deadlines they have with their clients. (These deadlines have been always beyond the date I was contracted until). My main point of contact does seem to be genuinely gutted to not be able to keep me on longer and we have a great working relationship.

If I choose to accept the renewal for two more months I'll likely have to look for a new contract in the summer whereas if were to walk now I might be in a better position to get a longer contract straight away and spend less time on the bench overall.

My query is, would it be out of order for me to go back to the agency and say that to accept the renewal I'd want a larger cut of what they're charging to the client? I've heard of some contractors doing this and spoken to some friends who work in recruitment but ideally I don't want to proceed in a way that poisons a well or is an overly short term approach.

Any guidance greatly appreciated!

Your answer can be found in the one sentence in the 2nd post in this thread.

It won't poison the well, it's business. Your situation has changed and you (mistakenly) think you deserve more money so you have to go try get what you want. You then need to go back and re-read my post 5 which covers what to do. You might get a few 10's of quid out of the agent if (if they aren't on fixed commission) but you saying you need more money because you might not get another gig later is going to fall on very deaf ears. Justifying your rise is one thing, blackmailing an agent is another.

Getting gigs is your problem, not the agents or clients so expecting them to pay more because of your business's predicament is a bit of a piss take.

Why do you think you are more likely to get a contract now or in the summer? What will have changed? If you were any good it won't be a problem but tell me your thinking about not getting gigs mid year? If you are are worried about gigs in May/June then wait until you get benched in Oct/Nov Dec!

[ladymuck]

Apologies if this is the wrong place but I'm hoping to hop onto this thread as it's a similar subject to a question I have. I'm a first time contractor, and I'm coming up to the end of my contract in a few weeks. The client has said there's only budget to cover getting some projects over the line before some contractual deadlines they have with their clients. (These deadlines have been always beyond the date I was contracted until). My main point of contact does seem to be genuinely gutted to not be able to keep me on longer and we have a great working relationship.

If I choose to accept the renewal for two more months I'll likely have to look for a new contract in the summer whereas if were to walk now I might be in a better position to get a longer contract straight away and spend less time on the bench overall.

My query is, would it be out of order for me to go back to the agency and say that to accept the renewal I'd want a larger cut of what they're charging to the client? I've heard of some contractors doing this and spoken to some friends who work in recruitment but ideally I don't want to proceed in a way that poisons a well or is an overly short term approach.

Any guidance greatly appreciated!

The thing is, budgets do move about. At this moment in time all they can offer is 2 months. In 2 months, they might have more funds available. I've had a rolling 1 month contract before because the client was unable to commit to longer. I stayed there over a year but I could just as easily have been told sorry that's it at any time. It's a business risk you need to either accept or walk away from.

Are you saying that you're justifying the rate increase because the client can't commit to a longer period of time? If, in two months time, they offer you another two months, will you ask for more money again?

No-one has a crystal ball and you can't be 100% certain that you'll easily pick up another gig now or in two months. I personally would take the extension, keep earning while looking for the next gig and serve notice according to the terms when appropriate.