Any IT contractors here?

gettingready

I normally work on a daily rate but recently got an offer of a new contract and some strange (to me) set up was offered.

The client wants to pay per hour - it would be daily rate/7.5 hours so theoretically mathematically at least this would make no difference BUT...

It is already at half my usual daily rate but not much around at the moment so could live with that). AND this particular contract would involve working shifts and weekends/nights (which I have never done while contracting before) and all are paid at the same flat rate.

37.5 hours per week could be split over however many days per week they wish - I always ever worked 5 days per week.

I have heard from contractors working in that particular place that often they were called in for a day but then sent home after just 3-4 hours.

No "overtime" rates.

Essentially, this role in my head is being offered on a temp and not contractor basis and frankly I am reluctant to accept.

Previously any overtime was paid at 1.5x in all the other contracts I have worked and night/late evenings/weekends were extra pay.

This just offers a flat rate per hour.

Any contractors on here came across this kind of set up?

Very strange to me.

Thanks

Also - has anyone worked in Qatar? That is another option now but not sure if this would wok for a single woman like myself , had a look at various forums/pages and mostly info from wives from men working there.. sighhhh

InsideInsurance

Not IT but ultimately contracting is contracting.

Had a few contracts based on a half day but never any on an hourly rate. Have had to do "overtime" that by default just meant working weekends and it was paid at standard rate but then I was happy with the rate so no issues with not getting 1.5x rate (plus it was by exception and not the rule)

I know a couple of chaps that have worked in the middle east but they were all guys so no help for single white female

footyguy

Previous thread was on the employment board here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5239075

You say in your reply there that you are an IT trainer, where the norm in that industry is to be paid on a daily rate.

If that is the case, how do premium rates apply to what you term overtime? What is overtime when paid on a daily rate? How are evenings or nights paid at a different rate when you are paid on a daily rate?

Being self employed, or otherwise in business, it's all about assuming risk. But whilst you may prefer to be paid a premium for week-end working, the client may not be so keen. In that instance you need to assess the amount of days you expect to work, and charge accordingly.
e.g. if you expect to work 7 days a week, and the client is only prepared to pay the same rate no matter which day it refers to, simply tell the client your daily rate will be about 15% more than you usually charge (don't tell them that like that, do the calculation and just quote the resultant daily rate)
If you end up working for that client just weekdays, you will be up on the deal. Conversely if you end up only working for that client at weekends, you'll lose out. That's the risk you take.
(Of course you need to regularly review the risk, and take action as appropriate)

DKLS

If its half your usual day rate and with crappy terms doesn't seem like a great sell unless the client is well worth having on your CV.

I have had RCs try to low ball me before, I would try one of the Contractor specific forums to ask about Qatar. I know a nurse out there who loves it and she paid off her mortgage within 3 years.

gettingready

footyguy wrote: »

Previous thread was on the employment board here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5239075

You say in your reply there that you are an IT trainer, where the norm in that industry is to be paid on a daily rate.

If that is the case, how do premium rates apply to what you term overtime? What is overtime when paid on a daily rate? How are evenings or nights paid at a different rate when you are paid on a daily rate?

Previous contracts Saturdays were 1.5 daily rate, Sundays 2x daily rate - never worked nights before. Anything over half a day was paid at full day's rate etc etc.

gettingready

DKLS wrote: »

If its half your usual day rate and with crappy terms doesn't seem like a great sell unless the client is well worth having on your CV.

No it isn't - the client or the system as theirs is a very specific in house that nobody else uses.... sighhhh

Big dilemma as REALLY do not want to take (terrible T&C comparing to my previous ones)it but have been out of work for a bit so need some money coming in and there really isn't much around in my field locally... apart from the Qatar one LOL

gettingready

Footyguy - you edited your post after I replied. Thanks for your input but in my field things do not work this way. Thanks anyway

Mistral001

Just a thought, has the OP thought about applying for a salaried job with this firm? Even if it is not within IT.

gettingready

Oh no, thanks.... to salaried job.

footyguy

gettingready wrote: »

... Anything over half a day was paid at full day's rate etc etc.

To me a daily rate is a daily rate. Make an appearance and you receive the daily rate (if that is what you invoice for)

That's how the House of Lords apply it (although they refer to the payment as a daily attendance allowance)

footyguy

gettingready wrote: »

Footyguy - you edited your post after I replied. Thanks for your input but in my field things do not work this way. Thanks anyway

The bit I added was about a self employed/business assuming risk.

If that doesn't apply to you, then it doesn't sound like you are in business and HMRC may well consider you a disguised employee.