Just had my hours cut

[RichardCranium]

Is there any chance at all of your getting another contract that only needs 1 or 2 days per week?

Are you working on a project or business-as-usual? If a project, then your throughput fell and the PM should be able to get you back on 5 days per week.

You can assume the client has a cash flow problem. Start looking for your way out now...

[centurian]

I'm hoping to cite a breach of contract as a reason for not working the 30 days notice, though judging by some of the comments here thats not as clear cut as I thought.

If you don't walk now, then your continued attendance can be deemed as tacit acceptance of the new 'terms'.

[wurzel]

I'm not going to walk because some money is better than none. I'm just going to look around & if something comes up I'll have a chat with the client & see if we can come to some arrangement. Problem is there is also an agency involved & they are more likey to be problemmatic than the client.

[BlasterBates]

Do they sepcify a minimum?, if not just reduce to 0 if you find somethig else.

Many contracts do specify a number of days.

[expat]

If your contract only specifies a maximim number of days, then if they can cut it down, so can you. If they cut it to 15/month, you cut it to 0/month. Give 30 days notice, and be unavailable for each of those days.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Lots of good advice up there - only you can decide what is right for you.

If I was in your shoes I would try to keep the client sweet - you never know when you might work there again - and look for another gig, when one comes up then serve notice and leave.

Yes it did happen for me in June, client was very open and suggested I look for other work - they took the risk on whether I would find part-time work that fitted in - I was put down to 10 days per month - or whether it would be another full-time role.

What actually happened is that another project came up with the same client paid for by his customer so I was back to full-time plus more as both projects together was about 10% more than a full time job.

[Incognito]

The other bonus you also have is that this exercise quite clearly could be used as an argument that you're outside IR35 if the taxman ever came knocking. There is no obligation on the part of your client to offer any work and this lack of obligation would indicate that the contract is not a contract of service. Hopefully your contract should stipulate that you're not obliged to accept any work offered.

[wurzel]

The other bonus you also have is that this exercise quite clearly could be used as an argument that you're outside IR35 if the taxman ever came knocking. There is no obligation on the part of your client to offer any work and this lack of obligation would indicate that the contract is not a contract of service. Hopefully your contract should stipulate that you're not obliged to accept any work offered.

I'm actually working as an Autonomo in Spain - I pay a special expat rate of 20% + 4% National insurance. No expenses, though still cheaper than being caught by IR35 (which IMO I was).