Reply to: New new new!

[northernladuk]

We already know it's Clarity from posts on the front page.

Serves me right for not reading.

[eek]

Unless that umbrella is part of a certain chain that will be/already has been hacked.

We already know it's Clarity from posts on the front page.

[Paralytic]

Unless that umbrella is part of a certain chain that will be/already has been hacked.

If i were with an Umbrella not already impacted, i'd already have contacted them asking them to confirm that they are confident that they will not fall foul of the issues that have happened elsewhere (yes, a funny think to be asking your "employer" but this is reality speaking).

I'd suggest any Umbrella not ensuring that is the case (or have not put mitigating actions in place) would be verging on grossly negligent.

[northernladuk]

I'm sticking with my Umbrella, I don't need the pain, or want the pain.

Unless that umbrella is part of a certain chain that will be/already has been hacked.

[IsayIsayIsay]

The more people threaten to walk, the better. If everybody did this, the agencies would have to budge. Instead people ignore common sense and go with some truly awful umbrellas.

The one exception to this situation is SC or DV cleared contracts, which do need the agency to vet the umbrella company extensively.

My advice to the OP would be to stick with your current umbrella if you are happy with them and also to be aware that many badly run umbrella companies, such as those under Parasol group (Nixon Williams, ClearSky, SJD), should not be used unless you enjoy pain and suffering.

I'm sticking with my Umbrella, I don't need the pain, or want the pain.

[northernladuk]

Are people seriously taking contracts that require lots of at a distant client site? All the well paying contracts are mostly remote or fully remote. If people are trying to back to the prepandemic way of working and not questioning themselves then they have more problems than just a query about traveling on client time.

But you've missed the issue. 100% WFH is a result of a temporary pandemic, not a seismic shift in the way we and the world works. It changed from what we knew to what it is now and it will change again to a new situation that suits. It's definitely opened clients eyes to remote working but IMO does not mean 100% working is a given now. If you think that then you're not thinking straight. You've forgotten the reasons for why we got to 100% WFH in the first place.

Occasional visits to site is not pre-pandemic. It's a happy medium now clients have grasped remote working. I've never dealt with a supplier, old days or new, where they do not pop on to site for occasional meetings. It's really bad way to do business to never meet the people you are paying a lot of money for face to face IMO. So the same for contractors (as we are suppliers), it's not unreasonable by any means to expect to see them a few times for one reason or another. In some cases you deliver a bit of code and go I guess but in larger pieces of work with multiple people involved there are times where a face to face is much better than Teams.

To expect 100% remote and be upset you don't get it is just going to lead to endless upset and moaning. The new world will be hybrid and use the best medium to deliver and sometimes that just has to be face to face. What you think it should be is irrelevant, you are a supplier and sometimes have to kowtow to your client.

[agentzero]

THIS ^^^^^^^

However once feet are under the table it may be there is some flexibility, but even then, if you take the piss you'll be noticed as doing just that.
When I am onsite, I will travel early to avoid rush hour, arriving probably before anyone else, and leave last (well after 6PM) and stay in a cheap hotel. Do the early dart at the end of the week after you've been seen to be first in/last out for at least 2 days.

Are people seriously taking contracts that require lots of at a distant client site? All the well paying contracts are mostly remote or fully remote. If people are trying to back to the prepandemic way of working and not questioning themselves then they have more problems than just a query about traveling on client time.

[agentzero]

They don't budge, you go with their list and life carries on.

The more people threaten to walk, the better. If everybody did this, the agencies would have to budge. Instead people ignore common sense and go with some truly awful umbrellas.

The one exception to this situation is SC or DV cleared contracts, which do need the agency to vet the umbrella company extensively.

My advice to the OP would be to stick with your current umbrella if you are happy with them and also to be aware that many badly run umbrella companies, such as those under Parasol group (Nixon Williams, ClearSky, SJD), should not be used unless you enjoy pain and suffering.

[IsayIsayIsay]

Great advice as ever folks, I really do love this forum (even if I get slated for saying so )!

[Lance]

Call me old school or a sucker or whatever but travelling 150 miles in client time is a piss take. If a client wants me on site and are paying me for it I'll be there on time. If it happens occasionally I'd be getting up earlier to set off or just expecting a long day for the drive home in the evening. A contractor rocking up at 11am and buggering off at 3pm because they travel on client is an absolute joke in my book. You aren't paid 500 quid a day as an industry leading specialist to look like a jobsworth perm.

THIS ^^^^^^^

However once feet are under the table it may be there is some flexibility, but even then, if you take the piss you'll be noticed as doing just that.
When I am onsite, I will travel early to avoid rush hour, arriving probably before anyone else, and leave last (well after 6PM) and stay in a cheap hotel. Do the early dart at the end of the week after you've been seen to be first in/last out for at least 2 days.

[northernladuk]

Fuel costs too and from the client location, and hotel costs if I am required to stay away (it's approx. 150 miles, but advertised as remote). If I run into issues, I plan to travel during the working day, which based on the day rate will cover any costs. I'm not going to get too hung up on it, as I always have the option to walk, but in this case, clarity of contract and pragmatism feel the right approach.

Well you need to be very careful. Remote is different to 100% WFH. I'd would fully expect a remote contract to include time in the office if need be. The remote bit is a fall out of covid and that is going to change. I asked this at my engagement and the did clarify they'd expect me to be in the office when required but it would never be a 100% desk based so there is no room for me charging my client for travelling to their office.,

Remote is too woolly for my comfort zone. It's also inside so this idea you are a consultant and charge clients for time spent travelling to their premises for business meetings isn't a given either.

Clarify exactly what it means so you don't fall foul later.

I plan to travel during the working day, which based on the day rate will cover any costs

Call me old school or a sucker or whatever but travelling 150 miles in client time is a piss take. If a client wants me on site and are paying me for it I'll be there on time. If it happens occasionally I'd be getting up earlier to set off or just expecting a long day for the drive home in the evening. A contractor rocking up at 11am and buggering off at 3pm because they travel on client is an absolute joke in my book. You aren't paid 500 quid a day as an industry leading specialist to look like a jobsworth perm. Granted I won't get up that early that I do drive for 3 hours and arrive on site at 7am. There is some give and take but I wouldn't be counting the time I normally log on as the time I set off on the journey like I know some people do.

I'm fully aware that is purely my attitude to clients and I am also aware some people here (looks at PC particularly) would think I'm a mug but I'm also aware of how stupid a contractor looks when he rocks up two hours after I do for the same journey.

[IsayIsayIsay]

What type of travel expenses do you expect to be claiming? You need to make it very clear in the contracting. If it's remote but you are expected to attend site a few times then that could be either commuting or paid for travelling. You need to make sure it's agreed upfront. There are no travel and accommodation expenses through a brolly but you can do chargeable expenses. One is business incurred and you can't claim it, the other is a customer deliverable so not really an expense as such. Need to be very clear.

Fuel costs too and from the client location, and hotel costs if I am required to stay away (it's approx. 150 miles, but advertised as remote). If I run into issues, I plan to travel during the working day, which based on the day rate will cover any costs. I'm not going to get too hung up on it, as I always have the option to walk, but in this case, clarity of contract and pragmatism feel the right approach.

[northernladuk]

It's a remote contract, so base will be home.

and also making sure expenses for travel are covered as it's a remote contract

What type of travel expenses do you expect to be claiming? You need to make it very clear in the contracting. If it's remote but you are expected to attend site a few times then that could be either commuting or paid for travelling. You need to make sure it's agreed upfront. There are no travel and accommodation expenses through a brolly but you can do chargeable expenses. One is business incurred and you can't claim it, the other is a customer deliverable so not really an expense as such. Need to be very clear.

[eek]

It's a remote contract, so base will be home.

Thought it would be - but I've seen people caught by that in the past so worth being clear.

[IsayIsayIsay]

Where is the base for this contract, home or their office? If the latter your travel costs are just going to be added to the invoice amount and taxed as if PAYE income.

It's a remote contract, so base will be home.