Reply to: Fixed price

[TykeMerc]

I've never understood how this differs from a "normal" 12 month contract. It just seems to be an excuse to offer a poor day rate. As others have said, if it was a fixed price for a fixed amount of work, then fair enough - but that doesn't seem to be the case.

It differs quite a bit as it's a fixed term employment not a contract assignment. Along with the salary you get paid holidays, bank holidays don't lose you a day paid, sick pay etc subject to the employers T's & C's.

That being said it's a bit of the worst of all worlds situation where you get a very poor rate, no ability to offset expenses against tax and no serious prospect of it lasting. You also are unlikely to get many of the benefits of real employment like pensions, insurances and of course redundancy is out of the question on a fixed term employment.

[Turion]

Are you not talking about a short term permie position (often couched as a 'fixed term contract')?

It looks like it to me. Not a real contract as we know it, but a parasitic lookalike. Mainly active during recessionary times and like most parasites feeds off the weak and desperate.

[NotAllThere]

Sounds good in theory but impossible in practice - especially when you are dependant on others to get your work completed.

Not a problem. You can't do the "12 months" in 6 months, so instead don't do full days. Many clients have a restriction imposed of maximum daily rates, or the total budget allowed. I've negotiated a £500/8 hour a day to £500/6 hour a day. Client knows they'll get the work done. Leaves me a couple of hours to do other things.

[ratewhore]

Rates seem to be dropping all over the place. Security jobs that would have been in the £450-£500 bracket 3 months ago are below £300 a day now.

At this rate I will be better off going permie for the duration until things pick up again.

Dunno where you're looking but a colleague of mine just picked up a £600/day gig and there was a couple of CLAS gigs on jobswerve last week, one paying up to £900/day...

[ratewhore]

Fixed price for a fixed term (12 months).

Are you not talking about a short term permie position (often couched as a 'fixed term contract')?

[rootsnall]

Fixed price for a fixed term (12 months).

A sure sign we are now officially DOOMED. They always appear as things get tight. They'll get a few people to bite but everybody always jumps ship as soon as they find something better.

[chicane]

Fixed price for a fixed term (12 months).

I've never understood how this differs from a "normal" 12 month contract. It just seems to be an excuse to offer a poor day rate. As others have said, if it was a fixed price for a fixed amount of work, then fair enough - but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Mustang]

The fixed price no doubt relates to the amount of time required and be paid by the day. If he does it quickly, they will save even more by not needing to pay him for all the time.

Exactly my point!

Walk away unless desparate.

Exactly what I have done. The agent responded by saying he would talk to the Client since they need my sort of experience.

[Mustang]

So do the contract in a quarter of the time - this will give you double your daily rate.

Sounds good in theory but impossible in practice - especially when you are dependant on others to get your work completed.

[Mustang]

At this rate I will be better off going permie for the duration until things pick up again.

I know what you mean! It´s tempting to do the same - even with if New Liebour adopt (aka steal) Cameron´s point about VAT and NI holidays.

[Mustang]

Do you mean "fixed price" or "fixed term"?

Fixed price for a fixed term (12 months).

[DodgyAgent]

The fixed price no doubt relates to the amount of time required and be paid by the day. If he does it quickly, they will save even more by not needing to pay him for all the time. Walk away unless desparate.

throw a tantrum and have a sulk

[Turion]

The fixed price no doubt relates to the amount of time required and be paid by the day. If he does it quickly, they will save even more by not needing to pay him for all the time. Walk away unless desparate.

[DodgyAgent]

So do the contract in a quarter of the time - this will give you double your daily rate.

Some entrepreneurial spirit at last

[NotAllThere]

Has anyone else noticed the increase in the number of cleçients offering fixed price contracts? Spoke to an agent this morning. The rate worked out at half of my normal daily rate!!

Do they not know we have tax, NI and expenses to cover as well as allow for any down time?!

So do the contract in a quarter of the time - this will give you double your daily rate.