Reply to: Team Building

[wurzel]

Oh Gawd.

Some permie has just sent an email to the head of dept saying that she feels awkward that us contractors aren't invited to all meetings and activities as we must be feeling very left out

So long as these activities remain optional....

[SarahL2012]

I care about impressing the client sure, but only with the work I was contracted to do. I'm not going to start doing things I don't want to do, paid or not.

Hate team building events like these. Worth checking whether their insurance covers you offsite too.

[kingcook]

Which is why you should do it for free, if that is you care about impressing the client.

I care about impressing the client sure, but only with the work I was contracted to do. I'm not going to start doing things I don't want to do, paid or not.

[edison]

About three weeks into my contract I was invited to a team building away day. This included an overnight stay, dinner etc but it was part work related (there were some presentations by the senior management.) Anyway, my client manager panicked that I had been invited when I shouldn't have been for 'tax reasons' but she wasn't referring to IR35. She went to check with HR then confirmed I shouldn't be going.

Then the Global IT Director apologised to me for the mix up!

I spent almost two very quiet days in the office with the other three contractors.

[SussexSeagull]

It's the CUK version of Mornington Crescent.

More like six degrees of IR35.

In fairness, I tried to avoid team building when I was permanent.

[aoxomoxoa]

Almost every thread on here ends up with somebody mentioning it even if the question is nothing to do with IR35 and even if the thread starter is using an umbrella.

It's the CUK version of Mornington Crescent.

[VectraMan]

The content was painting some rooms and cleaning up some gardens. I'm a software developer (and my contract is to develop software).

Which is why you should do it for free, if that is you care about impressing the client.

And yes everybody is too IR35 paranoid. Almost every thread on here ends up with somebody mentioning it even if the question is nothing to do with IR35 and even if the thread starter is using an umbrella.

[darrylmg]

...contractors throwing their weight around and trying to be different....

Are you saying that we're freakily overweight and a right bunch of weirdos that like to sit in the dark damp corner with very little light and shy away from human contact?
Seriously, I've seen some weirdos and most of them are not contractors. Some of the people they wheel out of there forgotten little offices at the end of the corridor, geeeeze .

[kingcook]

Now don't get me wrong - its deffo IR35 uncool but I wonder sometimes if we make too much of a fuss over it.

OK, so client wants you to go on this thing and will pay you to do so. If you stamp your feed and refuse, potentially your going to piss off client which could mean the end of it all anyway.

If you go, there's a miniscule chance it will be found out by the HMRC and become an IR35 issue.

I'm sorry and I know it might be wrong but MOST clients don't want contractors throwing their weight around and trying to be different. They want them to fit in and not upset the permies.

Not right but its a case of picking your battles I reckon.

There are some things that I let go, such as not having the term "contractor" on an ID badge, but some things, mainly doing work that is no where near what is defined in my contract, that I would not go near with a barge pole.

You say there's low chance of being found out, but it's not worth the risk IMO. I prefer not to have the thought of a possible tax bill + fine of £20,000 in a few years time (quick guess of what a year's NIC + 100% fine might look like).

Unlucky things happen to people everyday. I bet these pair thought they would be safe but, well... things didn't turn out to be so great for them. Similar principle.

[kingcook]

What exactly is the content of these? We have them at our client but they involve a couple of hours programme updates, news and forecast which is essential for the project. They then bugger about for a bit after which I personally duck out of. I wouldn't see it a problem if it does have some work related content. If it is just a jolly jaunt totally away from the work then yes avoidance would be best IMO.

The content was painting some rooms and cleaning up some gardens. I'm a software developer (and my contract is to develop software).

[Zippy]

And these puns were on a real roll until this effort.

It's a fair cob.

And I think I'm going to leave now before the Banhammer of Doom descends ....

[psychocandy]

Now don't get me wrong - its deffo IR35 uncool but I wonder sometimes if we make too much of a fuss over it.

OK, so client wants you to go on this thing and will pay you to do so. If you stamp your feed and refuse, potentially your going to piss off client which could mean the end of it all anyway.

If you go, there's a miniscule chance it will be found out by the HMRC and become an IR35 issue.

I'm sorry and I know it might be wrong but MOST clients don't want contractors throwing their weight around and trying to be different. They want them to fit in and not upset the permies.

Not right but its a case of picking your battles I reckon.

[GillsMan]

Yep but he needs to prove himself.

And these puns were on a real roll until this effort.

[Zippy]

It's the way he was bread.

Yep but he needs to prove himself.

[Clare@InTouch]

Such a rye sense of humour