Mercenary contractors post Apr 16

[Bluespider]

So this is essentially about the good of the many outweighing the good of the individual.

Should we band together under a code of ethics that tries to keep the quality of supply at a certain level? Protecting the contractor position as a business force that can be relied upon to deliver under the original terms of engagement?

Do we allow (can we stop) individuals being mercenary as you state and jumping for the best terms/cash position?

Is it down to each individual to decide how to run their business? Invoking notice clauses to pursue other interests at the cost of current relationship.

This may have an impact on the market and our reputation within it, but the state of affairs post 2016 may well shake the tree of all the dead leaves anyway, leaving (no pun intended) those of us who are in this for the long run and have the ability to build up our own reputation.

Personally, Ive done both. Stuck out a contract until the end and moved on and also left mid term, although the work was drying up and the writing was on the wall. there wasn't much of a lurch to leave anyone in...
I've also been cut early, business case shifted considerably and my position was no longer required.

To me, the flexible attitude needs to be in both directions. Employers need to start coming to terms with the real nature of flexible contract workers in that we can be brought in to do specific, required tasks and then binned but we can also leave of our own volition if the landscape shifts.

I don't, however, condone walking out mid deliverable when there is no handover and you are impacting the schedule or completion. That's bad business in anyone's book.

[northernladuk]

Glad you agree that its a business decision NLUK. As you said, surely its a business decision to get off the bench, then another to take something closer to home ESPECIALLY with the loss of expenses.

I was being sarcastic and putting the case as a mercenary idiot would do it. If that becomes the norm then we've screwed ourselves and won't need HMRC to do it for us.

[Bluespider]

Obviously, you are new to this, so haven't yet stepped into the contracting resourcing arena.

I humbly submit to your ability to divine information from a few forum posts. Your knack is quite uncanny.

You seem to have me pegged, quite succinctly, Sir, I doff my cap...

[psychocandy]

I was being sarcastic and putting the case as a mercenary idiot would do it. If that becomes the norm then we've screwed ourselves and won't need HMRC to do it for us.

Not starting again on this thread mun NLUK.

I would argue its business decision to take ANY gig if you're stuck on the bench for too long and possibly another business decision to give notice to take up a gig closer to home ESPECIALLY if expenses costs are crippling the companies income.

[northernladuk]

Not starting again on this thread mun NLUK.

I would argue its business decision to take ANY gig if you're stuck on the bench for too long and possibly another business decision to give notice to take up a gig closer to home ESPECIALLY if expenses costs are crippling the companies income.

And what will be the response from our clients if that is the norm?

[northernladuk]

If that were to happen, then there could be a case for clients to finally raise their voice to HMRC / HMG and point out how bad the new rules are for businesses.

Has this mercenary approach been highlighted in any of the responses to consultations or is it too hypothetical to have been included? Has to come as an argument from clients not contractors?

[psychocandy]

And what will be the response from our clients if that is the norm?

They won't like it obviously. Then, eventually, they will realise that the changes are affecting them.

I think it will also mean that clients will be even more loathe to take on contractors who they know do mon-fri because of this risk.

[MrMarkyMark]

I humbly submit to your ability to divine information from a few forum posts. Your knack is quite uncanny.

You seem to have me pegged, quite succinctly, Sir, I doff my cap...

Thanks

I thought you had posted as much recently, yourself, apologies if I was wrong .

[Pherlopolus]

And what will be the response from our clients if that is the norm?

"We can't find any suitable resource in the UK, can we get some non-british workers in please - they are so much more professional and hardworking, and they stand by their commitments...."

[psychocandy]

"We can't find any suitable resource in the UK, can we get some non-british workers in please - they are so much more professional and hardworking, and they stand by their commitments...."

And then they realise they are in fact crap. The outsource to india bubble has burst - lots of companies tried this and its just starting to sink in at some places that you get what you pay for all. Not all I will admit.