Stay as a PAYE Employee, or start Contracting?

[SpontaneousOrder]

I'd rather stay on the books for now (and subsequently, the right side of IR35!)

You wouldn't be on the 'wrong' side of IR35 if you went contracting. You'd just have to declare yourself inside, and pay everything PAYE.

[stek]

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.

Praise the Lord for the Gift of Clueless Noobs lol!

[reece240692]

Praise the Lord for the Gift of Clueless Noobs lol!

Indeed, and praise the lord for people who state the obvious yet do nothing to help the situation but attempt to aggrevate other people!

[reece240692]

You wouldn't be on the 'wrong' side of IR35 if you went contracting. You'd just have to declare yourself inside, and pay everything PAYE.

The right side being obviously outside.

[SueEllen]

The right side being obviously outside.

The right side is one where HMRC accept how you are operating without any hassle when they do an investigation. So SpontaneousOrder is correct.

[SueEllen]

<snip>

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.

The £100 is to cover the "training" they have given you.

They have clearly lost a few people in the probation stage to add both these things into your contract.

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.

You are free to look for jobs if you want as long as you are happy to pay the £100. However accepting calls during working hours may be a problem.....

[reece240692]

The £100 is to cover the "training" they have given you.

They have clearly lost a few people in the probation stage to add both these things into your contract.



You are free to look for jobs if you want as long as you are happy to pay the £100. However accepting calls during working hours may be a problem.....

it's apparently to cover CRB checks.

And to be perfectly honest, if I can take cigarette breaks then I can take a call during said break

[SueEllen]

it's apparently to cover CRB checks.

@*&* I've never had to pay for DBS checks. If a company wants to do them they are welcome to pay for them.

And to be perfectly honest, if I can take cigarette breaks then I can take a call during said break

Agents don't call like that.

[reece240692]

I realise that, I'd call them back when it's convenient, also they have paid for it, but in the event of termination they'd take 100 to cover expenses apparently

[mudskipper]

Have you asked your employer why they've suggested this?

Reduced costs for them = more costs for you. Under IR35 (which you certainly would be) someone still has to pay the employer's NI, cover sick pay, pension pay, holiday pay. Wonder who that someone is?

Self employed may be an option. It's not something most contractors can do as agencies and end clients don't like it because some of the liability can pass on to them.

If you go with self employed, there will be a net NI saving (between what you and your employer are currently paying) but you're very unlikely to be able to find other contracts as a sole trader.

What is it you do? If you're 22 years old, as your moniker suggests, your priorities should be training, mentoring, career advancement. Contracting isn't conducive to that.