Sky's current thrust

[webberg]

It’s this kind of info (about sky’s position/opinion) being broadcast publicly is expect it an easy HMRC investigation/shake down.

I'm going to guess that Sky is a known name in HMRC and has been on the radar for a while and the sort of anonymous hearsay and unverified commentary on these threads is not really going to add much to HMRC's arsenal.

[simes]

I'm going to guess that Sky is a known name in HMRC and has been on the radar for a while and the sort of anonymous hearsay and unverified commentary on these threads is not really going to add much to HMRC's arsenal.

To be frank, I would assume any large blue chip, from a contractor usage point of view, will be a known name.

Are there any such companies that are known Not to use contractors? Must admit I have not come across that information before if they do exist.

As for webberg's comment, I would submit right now, disputes are Exactly what are needed. Otherwise, that oft made comment about the pleasures of contracting, this of control, will become a thing of the past.

And in the same way when HMRC took contractors to court to Not prove their point, so too do there need to be some people standing up and shouting here. Points have to be made out there and they aren't going to be made by rolling over.

I have suggested if there is enough solidarity among contractors at Sky, if everyone were to just walk come April, then in the same way Public sectors have 'found' a way to offer outside contracts, so too will Sky realise they have to get stuck in.

I wish them luck.

[eek]

To be frank, I would assume any large blue chip, from a contractor usage point of view, will be a known name.

Are there any such companies that are known Not to use contractors? Must admit I have not come across that information before if they do exist.

As for webberg's comment, I would submit right now, disputes are Exactly what are needed. Otherwise, that oft made comment about the pleasures of contracting, this of control, will become a thing of the past.

And in the same way when HMRC took contractors to court to Not prove their point, so too do there need to be some people standing up and shouting here. Points have to be made out there and they aren't going to be made by rolling over.

I have suggested if there is enough solidarity among contractors at Sky, if everyone were to just walk come April, then in the same way Public sectors have 'found' a way to offer outside contracts, so too will Sky realise they have to get stuck in.

I wish them luck.

A lot of the Public sector found they could continue with people inside IR35 yes they may not have been quite as good but they were good enough.

And the private sector will be the same. Contracting will once again move towards real experts.

[eek]

I'm going to guess that Sky is a known name in HMRC and has been on the radar for a while and the sort of anonymous hearsay and unverified commentary on these threads is not really going to add much to HMRC's arsenal.

Equally it doesn't need to. HMRC doesn't have time to launch full on investigations into IR35 prior to April 2020 - what they do have time for is to send letters to scare people into willingly paying up.

[JohntheBike]

To be frank, I would assume any large blue chip, from a contractor usage point of view, will be a known name.

Are there any such companies that are known Not to use contractors? Must admit I have not come across that information before if they do exist.

As for webberg's comment, I would submit right now, disputes are Exactly what are needed. Otherwise, that oft made comment about the pleasures of contracting, this of control, will become a thing of the past.

And in the same way when HMRC took contractors to court to Not prove their point, so too do there need to be some people standing up and shouting here. Points have to be made out there and they aren't going to be made by rolling over.

I have suggested if there is enough solidarity among contractors at Sky, if everyone were to just walk come April, then in the same way Public sectors have 'found' a way to offer outside contracts, so too will Sky realise they have to get stuck in.

I wish them luck.

disputes are Exactly what are needed

agreed

so too do there need to be some people standing up and shouting here. Points have to be made out there and they aren't going to be made by rolling over.

at the risk of howls of protest, I've been saying this for some time, but I've been treated as some sort of pariah for doing so. Some representative organisations didn't do us any favours in the past by pushing the IBOYOA ideology and now we see the effects.

To put the record straight, it looks like my client is approaching the issues correctly and so I'm not likely to be affected, i.e. I'll be outside. So I have no axe to grind.

[Manic]

agreed



at the risk of howls of protest, I've been saying this for some time, but I've been treated as some sort of pariah for doing so. Some representative organisations didn't do us any favours in the past by pushing the IBOYOA ideology and now we see the effects.

To put the record straight, it looks like my client is approaching the issues correctly and so I'm not likely to be affected, i.e. I'll be outside. So I have no axe to grind.

Until your current contract comes to an end.

[LondonManc]

What’s the question?

There are plenty of contractors at sky with 5-15 years service under their belts. Many who have been moved between projects without changed contracts. Many who have only come to know about IR35 in the last 6 months.

This is just my experience of knowing a lot of contractors at Osterley.

This is why Sky won’t take the risk.

I contracted at Osterley about 7 years ago. Greate place to work back then, separate contractors car park so instant differentiation, etc.
Handy 24/7 canteen so that I could work whatever hours I chose as long as I got the job done and was there between 10 & 4 Monday to Thursday and 10 & 1 on Fridays.

I can see them moving most contractors inside because there's no risk of the backwards permie grab from the workers, given the retrospective tax grab that they'd face from the tax man.

The MoO bit felt awkward and was why I chose to leave for another client; Sky had another project for me coming up in about 2-3 months on my specialisation that they'd taken me on for. They wanted to give me some noddy stuff to keep me busy in the mean time, rather than get any actual deliverables set in a new contract.

I can see why contractors stay there, though; decent rates, good working conditions, get to see a few stars here and there (mmm, Kirsty), as well as it being an environment where if you're a grafter, they'll keep you in work for years. As long as you've got a cast-iron substitution clause and you keep delivering, you're pretty much bomb proof.

[JohntheBike]

Until your current contract comes to an end.

I'll know by Friday.

[MrButton]

I contracted at Osterley about 7 years ago. Greate place to work back then, separate contractors car park so instant differentiation, etc.
Handy 24/7 canteen so that I could work whatever hours I chose as long as I got the job done and was there between 10 & 4 Monday to Thursday and 10 & 1 on Fridays.

I can see them moving most contractors inside because there's no risk of the backwards permie grab from the workers, given the retrospective tax grab that they'd face from the tax man.

The MoO bit felt awkward and was why I chose to leave for another client; Sky had another project for me coming up in about 2-3 months on my specialisation that they'd taken me on for. They wanted to give me some noddy stuff to keep me busy in the mean time, rather than get any actual deliverables set in a new contract.

I can see why contractors stay there, though; decent rates, good working conditions, get to see a few stars here and there (mmm, Kirsty), as well as it being an environment where if you're a grafter, they'll keep you in work for years. As long as you've got a cast-iron substitution clause and you keep delivering, you're pretty much bomb proof.

Tend to agree with some of your points. There are some proper contractors there. But also some blatantly inside ones. I don’t think having a separate car park enough to be outside.

I’ve witnessed contractors getting gift vouchers and having awards for working late. In the exact same way as permies.

Also contractors going to fully paid for Xmas and summer parties as well as team building sessions.

Also as you say just being kept on noddy jobs till the next project rolls around.

Also contractors being sent on TDD courses where companies come in to run courses.

Very rarely have I seen people work from home.

It’s clear what Sky thinks. Sky also have quite successfully hired a lot of permanent staff in the last 10 years and their graduate programme is awesome. Maybe they’re not too bothered if some leave. 10 years ago imo it would have crippled them.

[asranjan]

I'll know by Friday.

Well?