Contract vs Permanent Opportunity

[TykeMerc]

I recently came across a permanent role with the following terms:

Probationary period: 3 months
Notice period during probationary period: 1 week either side.
Notice period after the probationary period: one month either side.

Such terms do not appear to provide job security.

The only difference between a contract and permanent role appears to be salary. The only reason a contractor may consider permanent role appears to be non-availability of contracts.

Not at all, as contractors we take a specific set of additional risks and give up the rights to some benefits.

Risks
Client can give us notice at any time for whatever reason (or no reason)
When the project is completed the client has no obligation to find us new work, we are out of the door
When no work available, no pay
If sick, no pay
If on holiday, no pay
Training time = cost and no pay
Responsibility for our tax affairs, no HR or payroll section to protect us from big bad HMRC (ok many of us see this as a plus, but it's a risk)
There are loads more, I just can't be bothered to work them out and write them down

Benefits of being perm
Company finds work, if it's quiet company still pays
Holiday pay including public holidays
Sick pay
Maternity/Paternity pay
Redundancy rights
Training paid for and paid while training
Pension rights
Can't just be sacked for no reason, in fact it's rather hard to sack a permie even in probation period
There are loads more, I just can't be bothered to work them out and write them down

There are many reasons why contractors work as contractors rather than permies, cash is just one of them.