End client rebranding me (and all contractors)

[Dan@OrangeGenie]

My end client has recently implemented a number of changes that affect us independent contractors providing a service to them. We are no longer allowed to park on site and have to use the off site overflow car park. ..good it differentiates us from the permies. But a more recent change is that we are no longer referred to as Contractors we are now Contingent Workers. I have been go ogling to try to get a definition of what a contingent worker is and what if anything would it mean if dear old HMRC were to take a closer look but it is a very contradictory and confusing picture out there in Google land. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

In my book, anything which helps separate you from employees the better. Looks like your client is doing their homework.

[TheFaQQer]

Contingent Workers just means "not an employee".

Do they run Oracle HCM? Wouldn't surprise me if they did, which is where I first heard the term.

[northernladuk]

Yes and you need to be careful that you don't end up looking at an American legal definition of Contingent Worker. The Americans do have a legal definition of a Contingent Worker the UK doesn't.

Oxford English Dictionary Defn of Contingent
Dependent on events, conditions, etc. Not yet known; conditional.
True under certain conditions
Existing only as a matter of fact
Happening by chance or without known cause
That may or may not happen; uncertain
A representative group distinguished by common origin, interests, etc. That is part of a larger group or gathering


None of which really helps. PS all non permie employees are now labelled as contingent workers including all agency workers ( cleaners, canteen staff, etc.)

Because HMRC use American legal definitions in their arguments..

Take you tin foil hat off and carry on as normal. Nothing to worry about here.

[Yorkie62]

Erm.. You looked up the dictionary definition of contingent?

Yes and you need to be careful that you don't end up looking at an American legal definition of Contingent Worker. The Americans do have a legal definition of a Contingent Worker the UK doesn't.

Oxford English Dictionary Defn of Contingent
Dependent on events, conditions, etc. Not yet known; conditional.
True under certain conditions
Existing only as a matter of fact
Happening by chance or without known cause
That may or may not happen; uncertain
A representative group distinguished by common origin, interests, etc. That is part of a larger group or gathering


None of which really helps. PS all non permie employees are now labelled as contingent workers including all agency workers ( cleaners, canteen staff, etc.)

[l35kee]

It might just mean that they've implemented Workday as their HR system and are keeping all their worker records in the same place, as that is the WD standard terminology. On the plus side the way WD differentiates is very strict:

Employees = on payroll, full dataset
Contingent Workers = cannot be on payroll, limited dataset

HTH

This. My old permie placed moved to Workday as the boss started to call our contractors "contingent".

The parking seems like they have an issue with space (who doesn't), and it's fair enough the permies get to park closer.

Enjoy the extra exercise and don't worry about it.

[CatOnMat]

My end client has recently implemented a number of changes that affect us independent contractors providing a service to them. We are no longer allowed to park on site and have to use the off site overflow car park. ..good it differentiates us from the permies. But a more recent change is that we are no longer referred to as Contractors we are now Contingent Workers. I have been go ogling to try to get a definition of what a contingent worker is and what if anything would it mean if dear old HMRC were to take a closer look but it is a very contradictory and confusing picture out there in Google land. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

It might just mean that they've implemented Workday as their HR system and are keeping all their worker records in the same place, as that is the WD standard terminology. On the plus side the way WD differentiates is very strict:

Employees = on payroll, full dataset
Contingent Workers = cannot be on payroll, limited dataset

HTH

[ladymuck]

I've been many things in my freelance career. Temp, contingent worker, contractor, that b*tch over there, MSP resource. It's a title. I don't care. What I care about is whether the contract and working practices align and I can safely argue my case should I need to.

[Hobosapien]

I wouldn't worry about what they refer to you as.

I'd look more closely at any working practice changes that come about from the 'rebrand' and whether the client's response to an HMRC investigation about what the client thinks your role is and how it is conducted may have changed for the worse.

It may have changed for the better.

[northernladuk]

Erm.. You looked up the dictionary definition of contingent?

[Yorkie62]

My end client has recently implemented a number of changes that affect us independent contractors providing a service to them. We are no longer allowed to park on site and have to use the off site overflow car park. ..good it differentiates us from the permies. But a more recent change is that we are no longer referred to as Contractors we are now Contingent Workers. I have been go ogling to try to get a definition of what a contingent worker is and what if anything would it mean if dear old HMRC were to take a closer look but it is a very contradictory and confusing picture out there in Google land. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?