Stay as a PAYE Employee, or start Contracting?

[fullyautomatix]

In essence unless you get a rate of 350 per day plus then it is a bad deal.

How long have you been working as a perm there.?

If a guy is earning 18K pa, there is no way he will get 350 per day. These days rates for 10 year plus experienced folks are coming in at 350 PD.

The main point though is, at 18K you are pretty much an inexperienced consultant. So contracting is not advised. What the employer is doing is trying to set him up as contract so its easy to get rid of easily in a few months time.

[reece240692]

I've only been in this job for 6 weeks, but Taking the above into consideration then, this turns into a question not about whether to take this offer or not (which I won't due to ir35 Friday to Monday rules), but to consider the fact that they might be trying to get rid of me and potentially consider going elsewhere?

[eek]

Taking the above into consideration then, this turns into a question not about whether to take this offer or not (which I won't due to ir35 Friday to Monday rules), but to consider the fact that they might be trying to get rid of me and potentially consider going elsewhere?

Yep. They are trying to save costs by making this out to be an advantage to you. I would start looking for a job somewhere else and build your skills up before deciding to go contracting...

[reece240692]

But why would they want to get rid of me? I'm doing rather well in my job so I've been told, I might be getting a promotion as far as I've been told so while the situation does point towards the look elsewhere option, I don't want to throw away what could be a good opportunity

[vwdan]

But why would they want to get rid of me? I'm doing rather well in my job so I've been told, I might be getting a promotion as far as I've been told so while the situation does point towards the look elsewhere option, I don't want to throw away what could be a good opportunity

As I gather you're early in your career, take this advice to heart:

With the exception of the smallest, most intimate companies, you are NOTHING but a line on a costing spreadsheet. The company does not care about you, your career or anything about you which doesn't directly increase revenue for them.

That's not to say they won't be good to you or whatever, but bear the above in mind and you'll always be happier. The second you start thinking otherwise is when you get hurt.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what their motivations are (Probably cash), only that you learn to be ready for such things.

[fullyautomatix]

But why would they want to get rid of me? I'm doing rather well in my job so I've been told, I might be getting a promotion as far as I've been told so while the situation does point towards the look elsewhere option, I don't want to throw away what could be a good opportunity

I think for you the best option is stay there and grow in your career and once you are in that "experienced" bracket earning upwards of 70K you can get into contracting.

[reece240692]

No doubt about that, I think really it's a win win situation, if they do get rid of me for whatever reason then fine, there are plenty of opportunities for developers out there, if not I stay and progress as planned, it's not my problem if they have to pay X y and z for me as an employee, if they were so bothered about that then they shouldn't have given me the job in the first placd

[SpontaneousOrder]

I think for you the best option is stay there and grow in your career and once you are in that "experienced" bracket earning upwards of 70K you can get into contracting.

Make that 35k if you work outside of London.

[SueEllen]

No doubt about that, I think really it's a win win situation, if they do get rid of me for whatever reason then fine, there are plenty of opportunities for developers out there, if not I stay and progress as planned, it's not my problem if they have to pay X y and z for me as an employee, if they were so bothered about that then they shouldn't have given me the job in the first placd

You do understand as an inexperienced person you need training?

Whether this training is so called "on the job training" i.e. where someone takes time out from their own work to spend extra time with you, or you get sent on training courses this costs your present employer money.

When you are a contractor they do not train you. If you are lucky another person will be kind and show you what's what.

Added to the other things people have mentioned you are on to a really bum deal.

I also suggest if your present employer is hinting that you become a contractor with them, that you seek permanent employment elsewhere. Why? Any employer who suggests that to a permanent member of staff has no scruples so will not have a problem in either getting rid of you at the end of your probation, or before you gain employment rights for unfair dismissal and redundancy.

[reece240692]

You do understand as an inexperienced person you need training?

Whether this training is so called "on the job training" i.e. where someone takes time out from their own work to spend extra time with you, or you get sent on training courses this costs your present employer money.

When you are a contractor they do not train you. If you are lucky another person will be kind and show you what's what.

Added to the other things people have mentioned you are on to a really bum deal.

I also suggest if your present employer is hinting that you become a contractor with them, that you seek permanent employment elsewhere. Why? Any employer who suggests that to a permanent member of staff has no scruples so will not have a problem in either getting rid of you at the end of your probation, or before you gain employment rights for unfair dismissal and redundancy.

I agree with you 100%; I want both on the job training and training courses because I have a huge passion for what I do and I want to be the best I can be in my field, I want to learn and I like to learn about my profession, I even use my own time and resources to do that so why would I want to give that up? this is another reason I have reached my decision of staying on the books.

I see your point about getting rid of me at the end of my probation,which is 6 months long anyway, that really raised my eyebrow along with clauses like not being able to take holiday within the first 3 months of employment and if I leave within my probation they take £100 out of my final paycheck.

I don't know if they intend to do that or not, however the circumstances are -like you say- a bit suspicious so I'd rather stay on the books for now (and subsequently, the right side of IR35!), update my CV and perhaps contact a couple of Agents to get the ball rolling, if I put my CV on job boards and they see I'm on the lookout then it's not going to do me any favours.