Reply to: Day rate negotiations to account for high inflation

[PCTNN]

Every single contractor ever thinks they are indispensable to their client/project. The reality is absoultely no one is indispensable.

Totally agree. Contract I'm about to start had someone in my role who left 11 months ago. Didn't get replaced until now (with me). And the client/project is still alive and well.

[northernladuk]

This could be why you got canned. Maybe they just mentioned the budget to spare your feelings.

And I am sure they do. Thankfully in both cases I am thinking off the rest of the contractors went as well... but I am sure it will just be me one day

[hugebrain]

Tons of time wasted, nothing delivered properly

This could be why you got canned. Maybe they just mentioned the budget to spare your feelings.

[edison]

Ultimately it is a case of supply and demand. As much as we discuss 'the market' on this forum, every skillset and even sector to some extent, has its own market and dynamics.

Years ago I managed to get a small percentage increase at renewal time. The agent predictably tried to put me off when I (a bit naively in hindsight) 'asked', so I went direct to the client who agreed to the uplift. I don't know whether the client agreed to fund it completely to maintain the agent margin or the agent took a part reduction.

Talking to friends who do a lot of hiring, it seems like the pendulum is moving fairly quickly towards the client companies having the upper hand.

[CheeseSlice]

Let us know how it goes.
I think changing rate for your next role is the way to go personally, assuming the market is paying it.
Better still line up the new higher paying role and inform the current client you're going to be taking it unless they match or exceed it. I think the awful inflation environment is a perfect excuse here.

[TheDude]

Every single contractor ever thinks they are indispensable to their client/project. The reality is absoultely no one is indispensable.

It's amazing how many mediocre Java and C# developers turn into Alan Turing or Jon Von Neumann the second they go contracting.

[northernladuk]

This is true, but for most the cost (in time and/or money) of replacing them with someone equal or better is more than the cost of a small-moderate rate increase over (eg) 3 months. Make hay while the sun shines

Absolutely. There are opportunities that can be leveraged for sure but never confuse that with being indispensable. I've seen many a shell shocked contractor that believed they were and then got let go. I've never thought of myself like that that but I've been let go in situations that seemed absolutely ludicrous. Tons of time wasted, nothing delivered properly, tons of value to add but budget says no so off I went. Clients also have different thresholds of expectations for contractors as well. Worked at a big pharma that extended some of the worst contractors I've ever seen but I'm currently at a client that will, and has not hesitated to, walk contractors on the spot that aren't performing.

[Guy Incognito]

Every single contractor ever thinks they are indispensable to their client/project. The reality is absoultely no one is indispensable.

Totally agree.

I have seen so many "indispensable" people summarily booted to ever get complacent.

[pr1]

Every single contractor ever thinks they are indispensable to their client/project. The reality is absoultely no one is indispensable.

This is true, but for most the cost (in time and/or money) of replacing them with someone equal or better is more than the cost of a small-moderate rate increase over (eg) 3 months. Make hay while the sun shines

[PerfectStorm]

Having a day rate to speak of at all may be one way of beating a potential upcoming recession

[dsc]

Ah yes the famous "they can't get rid of me, the whole project will collapse"

I've asked for an uplift twice but I was direct, got it twice but managed to ruffle up some feathers at the upper mgmt level, so I'd advise to thread carefully. Also remember that whoever you talk to needs to then sell it to their bosses and in the current climate, with everyone looking to make savings, contractor rates can really stand out like a sore thumb.

[northernladuk]

I have asked for an 11% increase for my renewal. I have never mentioned inflation or cost of living as justification, just made myself indispensable on the project I am on which has just secured funding til end of Dec 2023.
In true BA fashion I have done my research, I couldn't believe my luck when I was asked to help the PM with his budget for next year. All of my peers day rates were on there!
I also interviewed at a competitor for practice, networking and general nosiness, I determined my market rate from their offer, added £50 and bobs your uncle. That's my desired rate increase.
wish me luck ?

Every single contractor ever thinks they are indispensable to their client/project. The reality is absoultely no one is indispensable.

[ShadyBA]

I have asked for an 11% increase for my renewal. I have never mentioned inflation or cost of living as justification, just made myself indispensable on the project I am on which has just secured funding til end of Dec 2023.
In true BA fashion I have done my research, I couldn't believe my luck when I was asked to help the PM with his budget for next year. All of my peers day rates were on there!
I also interviewed at a competitor for practice, networking and general nosiness, I determined my market rate from their offer, added £50 and bobs your uncle. That's my desired rate increase.
wish me luck ?

[SussexSeagull]

If you don't ask you don't get but inflation is true for clients as much as us and be prepared to walk away if you think you can do better elsewhere.

[northernladuk]

Just to note there is a long thread discussing this exact topic in great detail not 6 threads below this one (currently)