Reply to: State of the Market

[willendure]

On the WFH debate, can't stand it myself.

I had a fully remote contract back around 2010, first infant son just born, so no way would I get anything done at home. Borrowed an empty flat from someone who was abroad and kept an eye on it for them whilst using it as my office. Then rented a terrible little office space with no windows and suffered that for a while. Finally bought a decent office/workshop through the Ltd. Was going to rent most of it out to cover costs, but the mortgage was never that much, so I have not bothered yet.

The important thing for me is to get out of the house! I would like to find a contract where I go on-site a few days a week also, I do like to meet the people I work with. Maybe don't want to sit next to them and their annoying habits all day every day like the in the bad old days - but I think face time really helps.

[NotAllThere]

Where's Ollie??
don't see any update on the ban thread.

Fixed now.

[sadkingbilly]

Where's Ollie??
don't see any update on the ban thread.

[TheDude]

The post you are replying to is an excerpt from the book American Psycho.

I know it is way off topic but this updated scene is bang on for every bank I have worked for:

[Bluenose]

Lunch at Dorsia anyone?

State of the market: Pretty damn awful, if there was going to be a January bounce we would be seeing it now.

[Dorkeaux]

The post you are replying to is an excerpt from the book American Psycho.

AH haha... I did not recognise the quote, obviously. Trying to find an "embarrassed" emoji, this will have to do:

[sadkingbilly]

The post you are replying to is an excerpt from the book American Psycho.

not many people know that.

[agentzero]

I'm rather old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and occasional walks. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I shrug and brush my teeth. If I get the urge to do 1000 stomach crunches and report it on a contractor forum I lie down until the feeling passes. In the shower I use water and whatever bar of soap is there that doesn't make me smell like a tart's handbag. I don't use after shave lotion with or without alcohol, but I do drink alcohol because alcohol tastes good and produces a pleasant sensation. Not in the mornings, though.

The post you are replying to is an excerpt from the book American Psycho.

[Dorkeaux]

I'm 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

I'm rather old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and occasional walks. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I shrug and brush my teeth. If I get the urge to do 1000 stomach crunches and report it on a contractor forum I lie down until the feeling passes. In the shower I use water and whatever bar of soap is there that doesn't make me smell like a tart's handbag. I don't use after shave lotion with or without alcohol, but I do drink alcohol because alcohol tastes good and produces a pleasant sensation. Not in the mornings, though.

[Snooky]

I disagree. WFH is good for some people. But I like being in an office and working. Some days when there was little to do, I could go for a longer run, attempt to chat up the PAs and engage with various other people.

I have met some brilliant people just at the kitchen or coffee machine. I once met a silver Olympic medalist whilst getting a coffee in the office. Guy was next level brilliant. I got back to my desk and googled him and he was everywhere on the internet, had his own Wikipedia page etc.

How can you meet people WFH?

Again, other skills which are important for life such as engaging with people. How is anyone supposed to learn how to chat anyone up these days?

I live in London, working in a London office in Mayfair, Marlebourne, Faringdon, is just awesome. Can go for a run on the river or in the parks.

Why would you want to be at home when the vista is so much better in an office? I mean, ok, it's more efficient, saves a great deal of time and cost commuting but that is just making everyone lazy and fat.

Why would you want to be lazy, fat and just collecting cash? Seems like you would be happy doing as little as possible whilst earning loads. Bizarre.

I'm 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now. After I remove the ice pack I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.

[jamesbrown]

Or you could look at the person who wrote the act (Rebecca) and that the end point is going to be a small number of lead agencies accepting the risk but explicitly requiring workers to use one of y number of named approved umbrellas from which they receive paper trails confirming everyone is paid 100% correctly.

I suspect one of us is a lot, lot closer to this world than the other.

There is a lot of "cope" among the people that are close to this world, IMHO. There is a much simpler way to mitigate the risk and that is to dramatically shorten the supply chains, not lengthen them. Either way, that wasn't my point, my point was about the long-term precarity of the umbrella industry, which was always built on sand.

[Snooky]

People in offices have called me inspirational and have gravitated towards my social skills and arranging evenings out for the team.

If this is how you come across in interviews, I think I may see your problem with finding a new role.

[quackhandle]

Jesus wept.

"Who’s this cool customer? Ice white shoes, Ice white socks with navy blue double cadet stripe, a pair of shorts, t-shirt with chevron action flash. ‘L’homme du sport!, (Man of sport) A tossed pink sweater that says I’m in Paris and nothing’s going to stop me."

qh

[eek]

To be pedantic, there isn't an Act, there is a draft Finance Bill. However, I did read the draft when it came out over the summer (and legal commentary surrounding it). I don't think the JSL is as straightforward as you are making out, i.e., a client is only a relevant party for JSL and hence liable in a supply chain without an agency. In particular, there are rules surrounding "connected" parties and how broadly drawn that is in practice under (61Z(2)(b)(i)). I would assume that the JSL is much wider than the basic rules surrounding relevant parties, in practice. For example, a client could expressly forbid the use of umbrella companies in their supply chain and still find that they are liable under 61Z(2)(b)(i) because the liability is strict, i.e., there is no statutory defence.

Details aside, I don't see how this supports your argument about increased use of umbrella companies. Sensible clients will want to de-risk, given the limitations of due diligence and indemnification, especially with complex supply chains. Indemnity clauses don't help when worthless intermediaries become insolvent and due diligence isn't a defence.

Or you could look at the person who wrote the act (Rebecca) and that the end point is going to be a small number of lead agencies accepting the risk but explicitly requiring workers to use one of y number of named approved umbrellas from which they receive paper trails confirming everyone is paid 100% correctly.

I suspect one of us is a lot, lot closer to this world than the other.

[jamesbrown]

Please go and read the act, it’s written in a particular way that accidentally made one of the expected models (agency owning arms length umbrella) pointless.

or you could look at Rebecca’s myths https://www.contractoruk.com/umbrell...ould_know.html

To be pedantic, there isn't an Act, there is a draft Finance Bill. However, I did read the draft when it came out over the summer (and legal commentary surrounding it). I don't think the JSL is as straightforward as you are making out, i.e., a client is only a relevant party for JSL and hence liable in a supply chain without an agency. In particular, there are rules surrounding "connected" parties and how broadly drawn that is in practice under (61Z(2)(b)(i)). I would assume that the JSL is much wider than the basic rules surrounding relevant parties, in practice. For example, a client could expressly forbid the use of umbrella companies in their supply chain and still find that they are liable under 61Z(2)(b)(i) because the liability is strict, i.e., there is no statutory defence.

Details aside, I don't see how this supports your argument about increased use of umbrella companies. Sensible clients will want to de-risk, given the limitations of due diligence and indemnification, especially with complex supply chains. Indemnity clauses don't help when worthless intermediaries become insolvent and due diligence isn't a defence.