Contract End Date

[digerido]

Can anyone advise if it's best to have a contract without a specific end date written in or to have an end date stipulated?

I've been told that if it's open ended your to be seen more as an employee, is this true?

Thanks,

[nomadd]

Can anyone advise if it's best to have a contract without a specific end date written in or to have an end date stipulated?

I've been told that if it's open ended your to be seen more as an employee, is this true?

Thanks,

On it's own, it's indicative of absolutely nothing. If you are worried about IR35, then you'll need to get the entire contract properly assessed.

I personally always prefer a fixed end date, just in case things don't turn out so well, I always know when I can be planning to go for something else.

Nomadd

[digerido]

Thanks, IR35 was one of the reasons behind the question.

Cheers,

[Fred Bloggs]

I have never had a contract with an end date. If it was a 6 month job, that was always just a verbal thing. In any case, those short duration jobs I always finish in a 1/2 to 2/3rds of the duration without breaking a sweat anyway. That's because the client will base the probable duration on permatozoa type productivity, not contractors productivity which is always far higher IME.

[Hex]

Roger Sinclair of egos says this in his Contract Questionairre:

"Our general IR35 advice is to avoid entering a contract for more than 6 months at a time, and instead to renew with a new contract and (where applicable) a fresh services description in the contract. If this questionnaire is being completed for the review of a new contract which is for longer than 6 months, do you wish us to amend the period to 6 months, with a view to renewing when that period is up?"

Although he doesn't specifically mention open ended contracts, they've got to be less desireable with relation to IR35.

[mobi]

That's because the client will base the probable duration on permatozoa type productivity, not contractors productivity which is always far higher

Beg to differ here. Permies don't always work slower than contractors or vice versa.

I've seen several contractors work at a slower pace in the hope of contracts will get extended until they can finish the work off.

This strategy often backfires though

[Moscow Mule]

Mine has a non-binding, indicative period for the supply of services.

I've been at the same place for a while now, but the services provided has changed regularly.

It also doesn't have my name on it - quite handy for an unfettered right of substitution...