Whats the views on rate reductions?

[Mich the Tester]

Boro Fish Bar? Was on my way home after a night out

Yep, I think the only purpose of that place was to provide substance for the inevitable vomit session ofter several bottles of Brown Ale.

[Chaffinch]

you should use the smilie when mocking someones use of grammar

HTH

Excellent point, well made, I apologise

[TestMangler]

What notice period are you on as if its a month negotiate a week or 2 weeks, it will kind of be obvious why you want it but it can't all be one way!!

As the OP stated earlier, this is a large PSL agency and a large client doing an across the board rate reduction. It's always worth asking, but trying to negotiate anything individually will be rebuffed by both the agency and the client.

Unfortunately, it can all be one way. In a buyers market, the buyer can do what it wants Simple as that really. Anyone who was in contracting in the early to late nineties has probably seen it the other way round, where contractors could rip the piss out of agents and clients.

It's up to the OP to decide. If he's confident of finding something else or has a warchest that allows him not to give a tulip, then tell them to stick it. If he needs the gig, he has no option but to suck it up.

[Notascooby]

I've just started a contract which is back-to-backed with Ajilon (Hyphen) and the crazy thing about this 10% reduction policy is that for the first 6 months you're to be paid £X per day but as soon as any extension takes you over the 6 months then it's X - 10%.

So on an initial 3 month (are you a tw@ test) you need to extend for a further 3 months to take you up to 6 at full rate, then further extensions take you into the X-10%. So for anyone going into a contract with Hypen, you should factor this in to your initial rate if you feel you'll be there long-term.

The agents aren't to blame are on a crappy margin themselves, I've been told 6%, whilst hyphen skim 4%. This is a case of Hyphen saying "look we can save you 10%" and as the gatekeepers to these large institutions there's no way around it, unless the client kicks up a fuss because you're really that important.

I'm hoping that in 6 months time there will have been enough of a stink that they will have a re-think but if I'm honest it's wishful thinking on my behalf.

[darrenb]

10% cuts across the board - if I want to extend it's on 10% less or I'm out the door !

Once you accept the principle of unilateral contract changes mid-contract, then you open the door to further humiliating contract changes and rate reductions. In other words there is no limit to what they can do to you.

I wouldn't call that a proper contract. Leave and find a client that respects the concept of a contract.

By the way, whenever a company does this, they simply lose their best people. Essentially they save pennies and lose pounds. The problem is that the pounds are in the form of quality and future potential work, and consequently invisible to the accountants who run these places.

[d000hg]

Once you accept the principle of unilateral contract changes mid-contract, then you open the door to further humiliating contract changes and rate reductions. In other words there is no limit to what they can do to you.

I wouldn't call that a proper contract. Leave and find a client that respects the concept of a contract.

By the way, whenever a company does this, they simply lose their best people. Essentially they save pennies and lose pounds. The problem is that the pounds are in the form of quality and future potential work, and consequently invisible to the accountants who run these places.

Welcome to the world of business. In the real world, this happens all the time, companies trying strong-arm tactics with each other if they think the work is too valuable for the other party to give up.

Talk of fairness and rights is permie mentality.

[russell]

I think it's time all us contractors go on strike, we need to show them who's boss. I will start in 2 weeks time.

[ChimpMaster]

I think it's time all us contractors go on strike, we need to show them who's boss. I will start in 2 weeks time.

Good idea, I'll join you in 3 months.

We can call it "Occupy the bench".

[doodab]

Good idea, I'll join you in 3 months.

We can call it "Occupy the bench".

Or "Occupy your time"

[psychocandy]

I 'kin hate clients doing this mid-contract. Fair enough at a renewal, kick out the sob story and offer a lower rate. Most people are on a 3-monther anyway so not going to make any difference to the client.
My policy is to get searching for an alternative and take the reduction if I can't get one. From that point I will remain professional but you can forget about all the usual extras e.g. time, covering people on projects during leave, informal on-call. I also won't stop looking till I find another job (which I never do during a contract) and will walk if need be to take it.

As Luke says, never been in the position myself, but surely if a rate cut is imposed on your mid contract then you aint exactly going to be in the mindset of being helpful are you?

I know theres a need to be professional but its human nature that if you feel that the client is treating you fairly then you're going to be ok about these little extras. If they aint then why should you bother?