Outside vs Umbrella Working and Supplier Behaviour

[Protagoras]

For no particular reason, I was thinking back to when I was a contractor, and then later when I was an umbrella worker.

As a contractor, a client request for additional scope would have me considering the IR35 impact of the proposed work, additional business risk and the extent of the effort for the additional work. I would often decline to get involved with additional work, particularly if I wouldn't own the solution delivery approach.

As an umbrella worker, life was in many ways simpler. No risk of re-work at my expense (not that suffered from this since I was diligent about sign-offs), reduced friction since I'd just say yes to any client request, and I was much less likely to argue with a client about anything. So in many ways, life was easier ...

Do others find themselves thinking differently about work when operating with a different worker status model?

[Ketto]

I find umbrella working significantly less stressful for all of the reasons you have mentioned, as well as having all of the money in personal funds which you can do whatever you want with. I even got invited to a team corporate resposibility day at the last umbrella gig (didn’t fancy a day litter picking a beach in Wales though!). I still do outside wherever possible, fortunately has been the case for all bar six months of the last five years, as the costs to umbrella working are so eye watering and the loss of financial flexibility along with the general annoyances each umbrella company seems to generate is very frustrating.

But there is a definite mental health benefit to just sucking it up and doing umbrella in my experience.

[Dorkeaux]

For no particular reason, I was thinking back to when I was a contractor, and then later when I was an umbrella worker.

As a contractor, a client request for additional scope would have me considering the IR35 impact of the proposed work, additional business risk and the extent of the effort for the additional work. I would often decline to get involved with additional work, particularly if I wouldn't own the solution delivery approach.

As an umbrella worker, life was in many ways simpler. No risk of re-work at my expense (not that suffered from this since I was diligent about sign-offs), reduced friction since I'd just say yes to any client request, and I was much less likely to argue with a client about anything. So in many ways, life was easier ...

Do others find themselves thinking differently about work when operating with a different worker status model?

Yes, I do.

I've started working for an umbrella company, I find it as you describe.
But I was never one of the forum IR35 nerds, imagining Hector around every corner waiting to pounce should you so much as touch one key on a corporate laptop.

I don't behave that much differently yet, I think it will make technical leadership roles less risky and allow longer engagements.
I think it removes risk, and takes the Director tasks out of my hands.

Cons:
The hit on net income is substantial, but mitigated by maxing out my SIPP via salery sacrifice.
I will miss being the director of a company, even with a staff of one. I felt I was in more control.
I keep hearing about Labour planning to "review" umbrella companies, expect an even larger wedge to be extracted.