Reply to: Anyone regret going back to permie?

[BlasterBates]

Possibly. A few years ago there seemed to be a fair amount of redundancies as companies cut back and several ex permies became contractors. That made the market tougher and then there is the ICT competition which is probably driving the opportunists who imagined contracting as cash cow back to the permie world.

Naturally I have absolutely no sources for any of this and it is mainly a guesstimation.

Even more naturally I was not one of the opportunists who went back to the permie world. I was one of the true, hard core expert level consultants who reluctably took a permie roll for 20 times the money and a free helicopter and ... oh bugger off the lot of you.

Yes and not only in the UK. I worked at a Swiss bank and a few years back, around 2013 a lot of long term contractors were not renewed and permies made redundant. That was the point where I went permie. I think I could have got something, but it would have meant travelling and the rates weren't great, they don't seemed to have changed for the last 15 years, so I opted for a local permie job.

[MyUserName]

Not that the people on this thread (or indeed entire message board) are a scientific sample of the contracting community but it sounds like there is a steady drift of people going Permanent again?

Possibly. A few years ago there seemed to be a fair amount of redundancies as companies cut back and several ex permies became contractors. That made the market tougher and then there is the ICT competition which is probably driving the opportunists who imagined contracting as cash cow back to the permie world.

Naturally I have absolutely no sources for any of this and it is mainly a guesstimation.

Even more naturally I was not one of the opportunists who went back to the permie world. I was one of the true, hard core expert level consultants who reluctably took a permie roll for 20 times the money and a free helicopter and ... oh bugger off the lot of you.

[NigelJK]

Exactly, that's why I said something special.

If you're senior enough you should be able to carve out what you want. ATM Permidom is a sellers market (particularly in the NW). I'm reporting directly to the MD of a largish branch of a Multinational, with a nice juicy pension thrown in for good measure. I'm glad I've made the move because I hear from Agents that this year permidom is getting to be even more a Sellers market and the contract market is going even further into Buyers market (and the new IR35 landscape is not even on their radar yet). I'm getting bombarded by Agencies (some of which I used as a contractor) throwing good contractors at me for ridiculous rates compared to their permie equivalents.

[SueEllen]

Hence a fixed term contract of 3/6 months is not a permanent workplace is it now? But I am only making an assumption based on my understanding of the text found on the gov.uk website.

Unfortunately you are incorrect.

As a fixed term worker, a temp or someone who uses a umbrella company even though the work may be considered temporary from a employment law point of view from a tax regulation point of view it is a permanent work place if the contact states you are based on the client site. This means you cannot claim back travel expenses as it comes under tax law.

[eek]

This is why:



Hence a fixed term contract of 3/6 months is not a permanent workplace is it now? But I am only making an assumption based on my understanding of the text found on the gov.uk website.

No but that's not how HMRC see it. It is your permanent place of work for that 3/6 months and therefore the journey is your daily commute not a business related journey.

[Drei]

If it's a fixed term contract your main place of work is the employer's office, so why do you think you can claim travel expenses?

This is why:

You can claim for journeys between home and a temporary workplace. A workplace counts as temporary if you go there for a limited duration or for a temporary purpose. But it loses its temporary status if you spend at least 40 per cent of your working time there over a period which lasts (or is likely to last) for more than 24 months.

Hence a fixed term contract of 3/6 months is not a permanent workplace is it now? But I am only making an assumption based on my understanding of the text found on the gov.uk website.

[LondonManc]

It'll be a sad day if I ever find myself tempted by a role in middle management. We'd also have to relocate to get my commute below 90 mins each way, hence it'll continue to be contracting for me. Phew.

Exactly, that's why I said something special.

[I just need to test it]

It'll be a sad day if I ever find myself tempted by a role in middle management. We'd also have to relocate to get my commute below 90 mins each way, hence it'll continue to be contracting for me. Phew.

[LondonManc]

Not that the people on this thread (or indeed entire message board) are a scientific sample of the contracting community but it sounds like there is a steady drift of people going Permanent again?

It would take something special to get me back perm. Higher up the corporate ladder, career opportunities, etc. That or shed loads of cash.

[SussexSeagull]

Not that the people on this thread (or indeed entire message board) are a scientific sample of the contracting community but it sounds like there is a steady drift of people going Permanent again?

[MyUserName]

I do not regret going permie at all. It depends on where you work.

I have interesting and varied work with a good bunch of people. I am home by 6 every evening and can organise family life around it. I do not have to be ready to reorganise child care, school runs etc. every 6 months if my contract is not renewed.

[BoggyMcCBoggyFace]

I don't regret going permy in general as role and £ ok-ish, but I do regret may be not dragging out my contracting out for a few 3-4 years before it becomes a total sh*t show and I also regret not negotiating hard enough on £ when I went perm.

[VectraMan]

I've never had training as a permie. In about 15 years overall I can only ever remember having two appraisals (though I had to give some). Most the time I didn't have to ask for time off, or at least when I did it was always informally asking someone and they'd always say yes so no different to being a contractor and informing your client.

And if you have a contract with no ability to give notice you're probably better off being a permie as you can get out of it in a month; probably less than a month if you have untaken holiday.

I don't see the two as any different. Pros and cons. The only definite pro to contracting is money.

[SueEllen]

Took some time off due to family and finding it hard to get something now, plus I think things are a little slow. Was debating to go for a perm role. If I found one around the corner I probably would However the last perm role I had a while ago was at 5 miles away (great commute). It was small to medium size, I gave my notice during my probation meeting and was followed by 3 other people. I did put it down as a contract role.

I guess if you get a little desperate you could go for a fixed term (looking at these too now). As the role is under 12 months (categorized as temporary work) I believe that you can apply for travel expenses when you do your SA (anyone feel free to let us know if this is the case).

If it's a fixed term contract your main place of work is the employer's office, so why do you think you can claim travel expenses?

[Drei]

Took some time off due to family and finding it hard to get something now, plus I think things are a little slow. Was debating to go for a perm role. If I found one around the corner I probably would However the last perm role I had a while ago was at 5 miles away (great commute). It was small to medium size, I gave my notice during my probation meeting and was followed by 3 other people. I did put it down as a contract role.

I guess if you get a little desperate you could go for a fixed term (looking at these too now). As the role is under 12 months (categorized as temporary work) I believe that you can apply for travel expenses when you do your SA (anyone feel free to let us know if this is the case).