Reply to: £75 a day contract

[NickNick]

Ok… would you do a 200 mile round trip so you’re away for at least 12 hours a day, no holiday or sick cover for 30k a year? 40k would make me miserable so at what point would contracting become unviable? There has to be something in it to make it worthwhile.

I'm not having a pop at you here, GJ, but would like to point out that a 40K income puts you into the top 10% of earners in this country and so I can only assume that there are many people in that lower 90% who would love to earn 40K. And yes, whilst many people wouldn't want to travel 200 miles a day etc, etc, for the opportunity to earn that much most people I know would move.

[AnthonyQuinn]

I wonder if barristers and the like are slashing their rates down to silly amounts, like £200/hr?



Thought not.

Those parasites will prosper at all times. Especially now.

[_V_]

I wonder if barristers and the like are slashing their rates down to silly amounts, like £200/hr?



Thought not.

[gingerjedi]

I wouldn't, and obviously neither would you but lots of people would... the point is that it's not about financial viability (at £30-40k anyway) but personal preference.

Well I wish they wouldn’t… it’s forcing the rates down.

[d000hg]

Ok… would you do a 200 mile round trip so you’re away for at least 12 hours a day, no holiday or sick cover for 30k a year? 40k would make me miserable so at what point would contracting become unviable? There has to be something in it to make it worthwhile.

I wouldn't, and obviously neither would you but lots of people would... the point is that it's not about financial viability (at £30-40k anyway) but personal preference.

[gingerjedi]

What we are of course forgettting is that £10 an hour is a fair wage for a bunch of people.

You’re right but there must be quite few who were previously getting £20ph but now find themselves looking at £15 or £12, for these people you’ve got wonder if the hassle of running a business or even having to just deal with an umbrella is worth the bother anymore? Rates are dropping so low that a 20-25k permy role is looking far more attractive, like I said there has to be some sort of reward for contracting.

At least these sort of support roles are still about, I suppose it’s better than being in a niche market where the work has simply disappeared altogether.

Tough times indeed.

[NickNick]

What we are of course forgettting is that £10 an hour is a fair wage for a bunch of people.

[gingerjedi]

£20/hr might not be acceptable to you, but it certainly can cover a long commute. If you don't take holidays you can get 50 weeks a year, at 40 hours a week that works out at £40K. Not great for contracting but still a decent salary outside of the south-east. And if I remember rightly (check one of the calculators online), on such a low rate you end up keeping 80%+ if you escape IR35.
Still it's hardly great, but it depends more on what rate your pride will let you work for unless you are sole breadwinner and have a family to support...

Ok… would you do a 200 mile round trip so you’re away for at least 12 hours a day, no holiday or sick cover for 30k a year? 40k would make me miserable so at what point would contracting become unviable? There has to be something in it to make it worthwhile.

[Scotchpie]

Whether to take it or not would depend on your personal circumstances. Are there any other jobs in the pipeline or do you face several weeks/months on the bench? How far is the commute - a short bus/car ride or an hour + by train? How much tax will you pay? How long is the contract for? What is the notice period?

It sounds a simple enough role, hence the low rate, and certainly wouldn't require much IT experience, so if nothing else is on the cards and its close to home (or maybe even work from home) then £375 pounds a week wouldn't be that bad for a short contract, or one with only a week or two's notice period, whilst you look for something else.

[d000hg]

£20/hr might not be acceptable to you, but it certainly can cover a long commute. If you don't take holidays you can get 50 weeks a year, at 40 hours a week that works out at £40K. Not great for contracting but still a decent salary outside of the south-east. And if I remember rightly (check one of the calculators online), on such a low rate you end up keeping 80%+ if you escape IR35.
Still it's hardly great, but it depends more on what rate your pride will let you work for unless you are sole breadwinner and have a family to support...

[gingerjedi]

Sign of the times I'm afraid, my CV clearly shows my address yet it doesn't stop agents calling with contracts based 100 miles from home at £15-20ph.

They must know that the rate isn't good enough to cover fuel or digs let alone my personal time so why bother me?

[d000hg]

Someone will do it - more like a 'office temp' then true contractor however!

Yeah, £10/hr is not bad for what sounds more like data entry.

[Sockpuppet]

Its not the lowest rate. There was one floating around on jobserve last week for £40/day

If i could do it in an hour a day from home I'd take it.

[Trev16v]

but if your local

I'd be replying back with a little English lesson.

[expat]

Because this rate is so low the amount of applicants may be low too so this could help your chances of landing the role.