A voice for the contract industry

[GB9]

I'm getting fed up with all the attacks from various elements of political and media society portraying contractors as morally corrupt and suggesting that we don't pay our 'fair share' (when in reality most of us pay ours plus a couple of other's).

How do we get a powerful voice that sends out a positive message for the contractor community and actually achieves something.

I'm happy to do some legwork if anyone has any good ideas.

[jamesbrown]

PCG?

Also, you probably want this in General.

[BrilloPad]

How about joining the PCG?

[ShandyDrinker]

I'm getting fed up with all the attacks from various elements of political and media society portraying contractors as morally corrupt and suggesting that we don't pay our 'fair share' (when in reality most of us pay ours plus a couple of other's).

How do we get a powerful voice that sends out a positive message for the contractor community and actually achieves something.

I'm happy to do some legwork if anyone has any good ideas.

Surely the PCG? (D'oh... other people beat me to it!)

Although admittedly not successful at having IR35 repealed I think they're the best hope the industry has got. I feel somewhat aggrieved that none of the main political parties sees the value of the contracting community but I don't think that'll change anytime soon. In my opinion the more people that get behind the PCG, the more likely we are to see change... however, I suspect I'm being far too idealistic!

[jamesbrown]

Surely the PCG? (D'oh... other people beat me to it!)

Although admittedly not successful at having IR35 repealed I think they're the best hope the industry has got. I feel somewhat aggrieved that none of the main political parties sees the value of the contracting community but I don't think that'll change anytime soon. In my opinion the more people that get behind the PCG, the more likely we are to see change... however, I suspect I'm being far too idealistic!

Never let the facts get in the way of a good Daily-Mail-style witch hunt. OTOH, I wouldn't dismiss the need for a little self-regulation; there are plenty of contractors out there that probably don't act appropriately on tax of have any clue about IR35. PCG membership seems to be the way to go IMHO.

[ShandyDrinker]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good Daily-Mail-style witch hunt. OTOH, I wouldn't dismiss the need for a little self-regulation; there are plenty of contractors out there that probably don't act appropriately on tax of have any clue about IR35. PCG membership seems to be the way to go IMHO.

Absolutely. I've worked with a number of contractors before now who are so obviously disguised employees and have not become reasonably well informed with respect to IR35.

Unfortunately in my opinion IR35 will get much worse rather than get better. Although not opening up an historic can of worms, I feel that it should be up to the client engaging contractors to determine whether they will be a disguised employee or not (as I believe was one of the original proposals of IR35); this would be much clearer for each contract although I admit it wouldn't be as easy to target/bully small/micro businesses as it is now.

[GB9]

I'm sure the PCG provides some benefits, although as a voice of the contract industry I have found their efforts so far to be lame.

I would love us to have something akin to the British Retail Consortium that people actually listen to.

I also agree that there are plenty of contractors who would shoot us in the foot, so part of the message would have to be that we too find deliberate disguised employment for tax purposes unacceptable.

[SueEllen]

I'm sure the PCG provides some benefits, although as a voice of the contract industry I have found their efforts so far to be lame.

I would love us to have something akin to the British Retail Consortium that people actually listen to.

The reason organisations like the British Retail Consortium get listened to is that they put a lot of effort into marketing and sending out press releases.

Ask the contractors on your client site whether they have heard of the or not. If contractors haven't heard of them then there is little chance for anyone else.

[JamJarST]

I'm getting fed up with all the attacks from various elements of political and media society portraying contractors as morally corrupt and suggesting that we don't pay our 'fair share' (when in reality most of us pay ours plus a couple of other's).

How do we get a powerful voice that sends out a positive message for the contractor community and actually achieves something.

I'm happy to do some legwork if anyone has any good ideas.

Really?? To the average man in the street, we pay far less than our fair share. Be honest you pay far less tax than someone on PAYE earning less than you.

[northernladuk]

If you are this desperate to make a difference I would have thought you would have put some effort in to researching it IMO.