Dress code

[helpFul]

Rule #3 of Contracting:

Contractors are always better dressed than permies.

What exactly do you mean by "better dressed"?

[escapeUK]

True - 6 pints of lager and a kebab and I'm any ones.

Scruffy also means I'm under the radar, indistinguishable from the others here - 4 years of billing 450 a day at my current client and they mostly still haven't got a clue as to what I actually do.

I just realised, you work for the public sector dont you?

[psychocandy]

Must admit I dont see the big deal in wearing whats appropriate for a client site. So just wear whatever you fit in with.

You're there to earn money not make a fashion statement and stand up for your individuality.

Personally, I wear suit to interview, tie first day and see how it goes. Generally, 95% of clients then its trousers/shirt with no tie rest of the time. If they have a dress down day I go along with it.

Better to look smarter than the permies than be the scruffy contractor in the corner if you ask me....

[scalyback]

Suitable Attire

Whenever I have worked a contract I always try to wear shirt, trousers and shoes, only time I have worn jeans and tshirt was working out in Afghanistan as that is more practical.

I am currently working a role at a client site and the company running the contract have decided that working nights we now have to wear business attire, when I asked what is wrong with jeans and a polo shirt for nights/weekends I have been told to "toe the line" and if I don't dress accordingly I will be subject to the companies discipline process. The clients workforce working nights wear jeans, 3/4 trousers or shorts on nights.

To be honest I feel like telling them to stick it I am standing my corner at the moment, my question is if the discipline process kicks in does that invalidate my IR35 standing as I am being treated as a permie.

All comments welcome

[northernladuk]

Why are you going to war with your client over dress policy? You are a contractor. It's your job to keep the client happy and if that includes the professional courtesy of adhering to their dress policy them so be it.

You can't be subject to their disciplinary process as that is for permies but you can get binned off.

Keep them sweet and IR35 won't factor.

[Tasslehoff]

Rule #3 of Contracting:

Contractors are always better dressed than permies.

tulip, there is a rule book?

FFS guys? At least put it in a sticky or something. Need to buy some slacks now.

Grr

[garethevans1986]

You're representing your business at the end of the day, so what you wear is up to you.

A clients dress code policy doesn't apply to service providers, eg would they expect a painter to confirm to their dress code of shirt/tie to provide his services on their premises? No.

Me personally, I dress smart, I have a friend who embroided our company logo onto a set of decent shirts for me so I wear these when on site, or at meetings, networking etc so shirt, black trousers and black shoes when on site....and shorts in my own office

[MattZani]

Personal rule is: always try to dress better than the people below you

[PerfectStorm]

Dress codes are a ridiculous throwback to a bygone era and we could all do without them. It would improve people's engagement no end.

[TheFaQQer]

Keep them sweet and IR35 won't factor.

Really? And the case law for that is...

I'd expect that it's the opposite - you try too hard to keep them sweet and you then fail D&C and start to act more like a permie.

Are you sure you're cut out for this?