BT cutting contractor rates now....

[centurian]

I suspect many contractors will walk out on principle.
Maybe that's what BT want.

Principles are fine... right up until you are staring down the barrel...

If you want to go into another contract, you'll probably have to take a 20-30% drop anyway on "historical rates"

70% of something is better than 0% of nothing.


Are they imposing it on renewal, or immediately? Renewal is fair enough, but the imposed approach does wind me up. What's the point of a contract if the terms can be changed willy nilly?

[BolshieBastard]

So that you can apply on your own... ?

Er nope! BT are on my blacklist and I'd not look to work with them. Anyhoo, Im in a contract with an extension to September in the offing, thanks.

[BrowneIssue]

Are BT still using that really dodgy Indian recruitment agency they had as sole supplier a couple of years ago?

Her Ladyship remembered that agency - Techmahindra.

[Sausage Surprise]

Principles are fine... right up until you are staring down the barrel...

If you want to go into another contract, you'll probably have to take a 20-30% drop anyway on "historical rates"

70% of something is better than 0% of nothing.


Are they imposing it on renewal, or immediately? Renewal is fair enough, but the imposed approach does wind me up. What's the point of a contract if the terms can be changed willy nilly?

From 1st May - when most of our contracts finish anyway - those who have till end of May will be reduced on 1st May also.

If I stay there'll be permies earning more than me.

[SuperZ]

Off topic but I`ve heard HP contractors have to take a 10% cut and HP permies a voluntary 5% cut. But 30% - yikes!

[MrMark]

Why not start a boycott of the client co's who've introduced swinging rate cuts when the market finally recovers?

If the clientco are breaching contract, it makes sense to walk. If all contractors did this, it wouldn't happen so much (it doesn't matter if they try and hire replacements, the systems will stay down the first month as those with business knowledge have walked. These big utility companies can lose 80k a hour if they lose their top guys). A contract works both ways.

[BoredBloke]

I was at BT up until a couple of weeks ago and was one of the last batch that got chopped. I was on £300 a day meaning that after this cut I'd have been on around £200 a day. I think in this climate I'd have probably took it and used it to fund my job search.

As it is I had 4 weeks to train my Indian replacement. He's been on the phone a few times since I left asking for me to help him to do my old job. I guess my training wasn't up to much - but then neither were his skills.

[bellymonster]

As it is I had 4 weeks to train my Indian replacement. He's been on the phone a few times since I left asking for me to help him to do my old job. I guess my training wasn't up to much - but then neither were his skills.

I hope you told him where to go!

[Fred Bloggs]

30% is pretty darn harsh. Commiserations. I hope they don't get that kind of idea where I am.

[Fred Bloggs]

If you want to go into another contract, you'll probably have to take a 20-30% drop anyway on "historical rates"

70% of something is better than 0% of nothing.

Yes, typical rates in my area of expertise have dropped from £40 to £45/hr down to £28 to £32/hr in the last 6 months. I'm hoping for an extension to a 12 month contract in June, but I'm wondering if there'll be a surprise on the rate if it comes off?