Contractor or Temp Employee . . . .w

[yeahyeahwhatever]

Hi ya

I started a second contract a couple of weeks ago in the public sector after my last gig was at an investment bank. Some people mentioned to me i may have problems with the culture change, but so far, not so bad.

I started up my own company and i am fully intent on building my buisness and my brand in the the future, i dont intent on just having an Ltd for 'tax efficiency'and as such, consider any one i do work as customers, rather than employers.

i had an interview , had to do a presentation on how i would tackle a particular project and all went well. The role sounded like i was there very much for a specific purpose, for certain things that needed doing, and to assist a specific permenant individual who was finding he didnt have enough time to spend time on these projects as they were under resourced.

My concerns started a little early on when i was told 'this is the team i will be working with" thinking, urr im not here to work within a team of permenant employees im here to assist them , and people in the buisnesse were refering to me as ýou are here to do so and so's job, while, this other permenant guy has been given time to concentrate on some other larger projects.

They ran through with me on friday with a pilimenary list of things they wish to make progress on while they are there, and that was great, a good list of projects and deliverables "which this permenant guys would most likeyly have been a resource on", but my issue is, there is also an element they also want which is to be giving adhoc advice to parts of the buisness, which is what this permie guy used to do, as he was the one resource who could deliver this input, my concern is that in this way it leaves me open to be reflecting the views of the company, rather than my own, the views of my company and my best practice, i have no wish to be the main point of contact for this particular area of expertise upholding views which are not my own, being a one point of contact in the buisness in this area of specialism, and in all honest, i dont agree it was ever right for even this permenant guy to be responsible for this infomation, i know he certainly hated it I wish to be there to assist the buisness to be improving specific areas and making things better, not being drawn into political fire fighting recommending best practice and it being either ignored or resented. I can see its disfunctional, just like alot of companys, i just want to do my stuff, make this better and get out, not be WORKING within a disfunctinoal structure.

I need to talk to them about this, but i am concerned about how i should approach it. It seems they are set on treating me like a temporary resource, rather than a contractor on a specific set of projects which, if i want to get anal "is what my buisness provides"

the crux of my issue is being considered to be "doing what dave used to do". That makes me feel like a want to

Its annoying as there is alot riding on this contract for me, as it would for anyone during these 'tough times" whether this "recession" is a self fulfilling prophecy or not. . .the fact is there is ultimately alot of competition out there and puts me potentinally in a week position, but i do know these guys had a hard time recruiting for this role and from what i here, there was a guy that was there for one day, and then left as it wasn t for him. And, theres also quite abit of jovial from the hiring manager saying, "oh you havent left yet, well i guess thats something" tongue in cheek and all that.

Public sector seems to be a funny bag, everyone seems to know what this problems are, usually higher up the food chain but just keeps their head down to not rock the boat. Its funny but also very sad, not the way i personally work, and , clearly in the baby p situation, can end in disaster. So, for me as an outsider, seeing this, i just wonna be at least contributing to a better sitiation, not be involved in the BAU stuff and politics. Get in, make a positive change and get out.

Whats ya thoughts?

A

[JoJoGabor]

My experience of public sector clients are you won't be able to change anything, or at least not with an inordinate amount of effort. Most people are covering their own arses rather than risk sticking their head above the parapet.

[BrilloPad]

It sound like what Dave used to do was for certain things that needed doing, and to assist a specific permenant individual who was finding he didnt have enough time to spend time on these projects as they were under resourced.

I think you are unlikely to change the culture much - you can try to have a word with them - but in the meantime look for another gig.

[cojak]

Well you're right about being ignored and resented for promoting best practice in a government agency, you'll also be sidelined...

You're just going to need a thick skin and stick it out until you can find something better...

[Turion]

"...there was a guy that was there for one day, and then left as it wasn t for him. "

Judging by the novel of dissatisfaction you have just posted, you should follow his example by doing the honourable thing, and leave.

It public sector FFS, what did you expect?

[BrilloPad]

"...there was a guy that was there for one day, and then left as it wasn t for him. "

Judging by the novel of dissatisfaction you have just posted, you should follow his example by doing the honourable thing, and leave.

It public sector FFS, what did you expect?

I disagree - in the current market a job is a job. Looks elsewhere - but think of the money....

[adestor]

I've worked on a few public sector contracts and the environment is always the same. People are just watching their backs and not making waves. It's all about politics and inertia to change.
It's never going to change and it's a job - maybe it'll tide you over until things get better.
Anyway, with all that inertia and inefficiency you'll get lots of opportunities to coast - that's what I did

[BrilloPad]

I once applied for a public sector job in the 1991 recession. with Brighton Council. I was told were very politically correct and I might have to be careful what I said coming from a bank. I burst out laughing. I must learn not to be so mouthy.

[chris79]

Interesting read that.

I had exactly the same problem at my last place (large blue chip) where I was setup in a team, with a structure, line manager, told 'perform this process' etc, despite coming in as a consultant. Ultimately in the end I left as further down the line it started to cause real working relationship problems, but it certainly gave me an understanding of how large places just see you as a 'temporary worker', rather than an individual company/consultant.

I think the problem is down to a lack of education on the clients part, I think they are under the impression they are simply hiring extra staff from an agency, rather than an agency supplying a consultant. Also if the people hiring have never worked outside their said industry they fail to recognise any other working structure, or feel their's works best so expect you to follow suit. Also if the role you are doing there was previously done by someone internal, then they see it as a non-specialist post (i.e. they don't recognise you as a consultant doing a specialist job, only a gap filler).

In the current climate I would be tempted to just keep a low profile, go along with it then get out when the job is done. The end result will be £ in the bank, experience on CV, and once the project is complete the problem is no longer an issue, just move on. Now is not the right time for being dogmatic and challenging a situation which ultimately doesn't realistically need addressing if you chose to go along with it all. Frustrating I know, but sometimes its better to just bite your tongue. (Just my own opinion on the situation by the way)...

[shoes]

I had exactly the same problem at my last place (large blue chip) where I was setup in a team, with a structure, line manager, told 'perform this process' etc, despite coming in as a consultant.

Did you administer it as inside ir35? I'd put up with nonsense, that wouldn't be a problem for me, but if it's ir35 caught that's a real issue.