Change of role

[Monkeynuts]

I am sure this must have happened to others on here so looking for advice.

. Started a new contract a few weeks ago Taken on for a specific skill that a company needed and to be the SME in this area , a technical role to head up a team.

Within three days taken aside by my line manager and told that my role would be changing and that I would now be required to take over from a manager who was leaving( got kicked out really). I was a bit suprised and said I was fine where I was. Then told probably best to take this as there were plans to move all work offshore....( so what choice is that really ?)

So after three weeks I am doing nothing related to my original role just taking on a load of responsibilities and not getting paid for it.In the future I will have to juggle this with my other work...The outgoing manager is on very good money but no pay rise for me. I raised this with the agent who has done nothing. My manager is telling me I should be flexible and that as a pro i should be able to do a variety of tasks...

So essentially I have twice the work and no exta pay. Can I walk ? My contract does not say anything about other duties. I was contracted to provide technical services not progress chasing crap. I have not done work relating to the job spec I was given. I have never walked before and always completed my contract. I am not very happy sitting in management meetings knowing I am surrounded by people earning shed loads of money more than me whilst having the same responsibilities.

[DaveB]

I am sure this must have happened to others on here so looking for advice.

. Started a new contract a few weeks ago Taken on for a specific skill that a company needed and to be the SME in this area , a technical role to head up a team.

Within three days taken aside by my line manager and told that my role would be changing and that I would now be required to take over from a manager who was leaving( got kicked out really). I was a bit suprised and said I was fine where I was. Then told probably best to take this as there were plans to move all work offshore....( so what choice is that really ?)

So after three weeks I am doing nothing related to my original role just taking on a load of responsibilities and not getting paid for it.In the future I will have to juggle this with my other work...The outgoing manager is on very good money but no pay rise for me. I raised this with the agent who has done nothing. My manager is telling me I should be flexible and that as a pro i should be able to do a variety of tasks...

So essentially I have twice the work and no exta pay. Can I walk ? My contract does not say anything about other duties. I was contracted to provide technical services not progress chasing crap. I have not done work relating to the job spec I was given. I have never walked before and always completed my contract. I am not very happy sitting in management meetings knowing I am surrounded by people earning shed loads of money more than me whilst having the same responsibilities.

Without seeing the wording of your contract and the schedule associated with it, I would say that yes you have grounds to walk as the role is not the one specified in the contract.

Tell your manager your company was hired to provide specialist servcies and to do a specific job, not for you to be a general dogsbody. Would he expect any other supplier to work outside the contract terms and not get paid for it?

Depending on how hardball you want to play you can either simply walk, or give them the ultimatum of more money or you walk.

Check your contract first though.

[rd409]

I am sure this must have happened to others on here so looking for advice.

. Started a new contract a few weeks ago Taken on for a specific skill that a company needed and to be the SME in this area , a technical role to head up a team.

Within three days taken aside by my line manager and told that my role would be changing and that I would now be required to take over from a manager who was leaving( got kicked out really). I was a bit suprised and said I was fine where I was. Then told probably best to take this as there were plans to move all work offshore....( so what choice is that really ?)

So after three weeks I am doing nothing related to my original role just taking on a load of responsibilities and not getting paid for it.In the future I will have to juggle this with my other work...The outgoing manager is on very good money but no pay rise for me. I raised this with the agent who has done nothing. My manager is telling me I should be flexible and that as a pro i should be able to do a variety of tasks...

So essentially I have twice the work and no exta pay. Can I walk ? My contract does not say anything about other duties. I was contracted to provide technical services not progress chasing crap. I have not done work relating to the job spec I was given. I have never walked before and always completed my contract. I am not very happy sitting in management meetings knowing I am surrounded by people earning shed loads of money more than me whilst having the same responsibilities.

Have you considered the implication of IR35 on whatever pay you are getting? I am assuming that you are going ltd here.

[northernladuk]

Wish I could afford to walk out of a contract just because I don't like the work.

Even if you could walk because you got extra duties that don't fit your contract think how your client and agent will view it. They will be livid and they will not agree so you are in for a fight and gauranteed not to get asked back. Not only will you be out of work but with a load of tulip going around. If you were doing a completely different piece of work that ruins your CV or you can't do it or something then I might be a little more sympathetic but just jacking it in without thinking about other aspects I am not. Walking just because you are over worked is not the way of a good contractor. Again there are limits I admit, the role might be ruining your life and future prospects fine, but having a bit too much to do and complaining you are not paid enough then no.

What do you do? If you are in a managerial role I would be tempted to agree with your manager... to a limited extent though. Do it and think about the invoicing.

Instead of walking look at the opportunities. Firstly the basics. If the role is completely different then you need to get your contract redone. Being given extra tasks above and beyond is clear client direction. You need your contract to cover the work you are doing for IR35. I don't think that is an unreasonable request.

Secondly, this extra role you are taking on? Surely there are some benefits for you somewhere? Many contractors would be very pleased to be given a chance to expand their skills or step up the ladder. Is there no benefit to your CV and career with this extra responsiblity at all? Let's assume you are a coder, you have been given managerial responsibility for other coders or the whole solution. You might not want the work but it is a rare and valuable chance to move up the chain for better rates, more contractrs in the future.

Does it allow you to manage people, teams, budget that your existing skillset doesn't. Are you managing people in a different skill set that would be useful. While you are managing them sit with them and learn so you come out with a new skill?

There has to be some benefit somewhere surely?

Is the outgoing guy a contractor? Are you sure his rate was more than you? Are you sure? The last gig I was in had BA's up to Project Leads all on the same rate give or take a tenner. Are you sure you are not ruining the role for yourself by being so cut up about the rate? The outgoing guy might have been an experienced manager and so can command the rate. You are a guy covering it without the skills, this doesn't mean you can command the rate. Can you get over it and turn it in to a win for yourself or are you just going to get depressed about guys on a tenner a day more than you? If so you gotta walk.

I honestly think there are benefits for you here and you can turn this to your advantage. If you can't see that or don't want to then the best thing is to walk and just suffer the short term fall out from it.

[Monkeynuts]

Have you considered the implication of IR35 on whatever pay you are getting? I am assuming that you are going ltd here.

Cheers for the reply. Could you elaborate a bit on what you mean re IR35 ?

I don't want sound like a spoiled brat, i realise the economy aint great. Just feel a bit stitched up....

[northernladuk]

Cheers for the reply. Could you elaborate a bit on what you mean re IR35 ?

I don't want sound like a spoiled brat, i realise the economy aint great. Just feel a bit stitched up....

Check the links on the right. THere is a number of resources going in to IR35 in detail. Lots more on the PCG website and just google in general.

[Monkeynuts]

Check the links on the right. THere is a number of resources going in to IR35 in detail. Lots more on the PCG website and just google in general.

Ok cheers.

[rd409]

Cheers for the reply. Could you elaborate a bit on what you mean re IR35 ?

I don't want sound like a spoiled brat, i realise the economy aint great. Just feel a bit stitched up....

If you are replacing a permie at client side, and doing some managerial activities, and providing services on ad hoc basis outside of your contract; you run a risk of being branded as a disguised employee. However this does not mean that you will fail IR35, but these are the most easy bits that you can take care of.

If the client wants you to work on some additional duties, make sure, there is another contract in place or atleast some sort of request that the client makes to your limited company, which you would then accept. Doing additional tasks is no brainer as everyone wants to be in good books, and again this won't harm you a bit. But this has to be properly thought of, and the client should know that any favors are occasional, and just that. They should be made aware of the IR35 implication, and how that would affect the relation of your company and theirs.