Good News Ahoy!

CLAPTON

gadgetmind wrote: »

They give people choices in life, and personally I like choices. Moreover, I'm happy for others to have the same choices available to them as I do, choices that I take far too much for granted TBH.

When it comes to telling people how to succeed, I like being able to advise people to "study hard, work hard, and at hard things" rather than "choose your womb with care".

We have offices in 25 countries, and if "cheap" was the critical thing, we'd expand elsewhere rather than recruiting in other countries and relocating people.

Its very nice that you would like to give choices to others : I too feel that would be right except there are about 9,000,0000,0000 of other people.


Until such time as global circumstances are drastically changed, I take the view that we should protect the quality of life of UK people by limiting the population increase.


Given the situation of your company, it seems very strange that you don't simply expand overseas and provide quality employment locally.

gadgetmind

CLAPTON wrote: »

Its very nice that you would like to give choices to others : I too feel that would be right except there are about 9,000,0000,0000 of other people.

Well, yes, there's the rub. But for the most part, people prefer to live in the community they were born into and grew up in, so we just need to work with them to improve education and quality of life where they are.

Given the situation of your company, it seems very strange that you don't simply expand overseas and provide quality employment locally.

We do both, but our jobs globally are open to anyone. I could turn people away because I don't care for the colour of their skin, their place of birth, their funny accent, or because of the god they worship, but I'm afraid that's not really my way.

Blimey, maybe there's a word for people who do these things?

Conrad

Gen, serious question for ya.

Over the years I've met many a client or prospect that pays no or little tax and plenty that are completely off radar, indeed one only yesterday, quite a decent earner who manages his fathers business, unknown to the tax man.

This morning my wife and I met our accountant, we ended up mainly having a chinwag and he told us it's completely normal for them to get enquiries form people totally off radar, just in one little town, and that the bulk of thier clients pay hardly any tax. It turns out everyone is at the ruse of scrubbing one ltd co in order to not pay corporation tax, and then have another already started so as to carry on as they were.
Indeed he's been asking us if we would like to do this, and these arnt some underground crook accountants, just typical provincial firm an I've dealt with plenty like them through work.

He mentioned that many landlords they deal with do not declare any property or rental income and that really next to none are ever caught, and they just pass property on on death.

It is utterly normal for a client to say to me he wants everything in his name as he doesn't want his spouses benefits or tax credits affected. Just every other person says this from all sorts of backgrounds.

I struggle to get accross to you all just how rife all this is, I'm often told it must be rare, but I assure you it's endemic.
My question is I wonder to what extent the authorities and economics specialists are aware of this?

Bare in mind millions of self cert and non status mortgages were being done which is quite a hint at the scale of hidden assets and earnings

patman99

I work for a specialist cladding firm and one of my co-workers has a relative that works in an Agency. He said they are getting an increasing number of requests for British only workers due to the lack-lustre work quality of the Eastern European workers.

As for the dropping unemployment rate. Even though this is good news, it dosn't take into account the recent large job loses caused as a result of SSI closing their UK operations down. They will loose 2,000 employees directley employed by them.
However, the steel suppliers who relied on SSI to provide them with their stock are also suffering as a result.
One of my emploers supplies has announced it is closing every UK depot except 1. So that's another 250 staff on the dole.
Luckily, a lot of them are drivers, so with any luck they will soon be back driving again soon.

Thrugelmir

Conrad wrote: »

Over the years I've met many a client or prospect that pays no or little tax and plenty that are completely off radar, indeed one only yesterday, quite a decent earner who manages his fathers business, unknown to the tax man.

I've met plenty too over the years. Trouble is. At some point the world caves in. More so now that the HMRC has direct access to so many sources of data.

gadgetmind

patman99 wrote: »

He said they are getting an increasing number of requests for British only workers due to the lack-lustre work quality of the Eastern European workers.

We get UK born people with a good eye for detail and a strong work ethic, and we also see this from those from Eastern Europe. We also see the opposite from both. Rather than sticking up "No Irish Need Apply" signs, why not improve recruiting processes?

gadgetmind

Conrad wrote: »

I struggle to get accross to you all just how rife all this is, I'm often told it must be rare, but I assure you it's endemic.

We certainly have a thriving black economy, but I'm not convinced that it's out of control.

I knew a taxi driver who didn't declare all the cash, but he was caught on a sweep, and couldn't match his expenditure to his declared income. I also know of a fish and chip shop owner who was caught in a sting on VAT evasion and was given a £50k+ back-dated assessment on Christmas eve with 5 days to pay it.

Both lost their houses and the latter lost his business too.

Yes, some people get away with these crimes, but you don't mess with the tax man and sleep soundly at night.

Graham_Devon

Generali wrote: »

Yes but on average people are getting large real pay increases: 3+% pa.

It was announced in the news earlier that the majority of this is actually going to people at the top end of the pay scale.

As lisyloo said, the devil is in the detail. Yes, the average overall is 3% or so. However, the reality is that isn't neccesarily reaching those who need the increase the most.

Afterall, you've got hundreds of thousands of people when you look at the police, NHS, teaching, councils etc who are all pretty much restricted to 1%.

gadgetmind

Graham_Devon wrote: »

It was announced in the news earlier that the majority of this is actually going to people at the top end of the pay scale.

Do you have a reference? I'd love to see their results and working.

Afterall, you've got hundreds of thousands of people when you look at the police, NHS, teaching, councils etc who are all pretty much restricted to 1%.

Maybe, but public sector salaries were galloping away from private sector ones, so a bit of a resync was required.

Also note that the figures show the largest rises in construction and hospitality, not areas know for hiring lots of "top end of the pay scale" people.

Graham_Devon

gadgetmind wrote: »

Do you have a reference? I'd love to see their results and working.

No, was just on the TV, I think ITV news.

Maybe, but public sector salaries were galloping away from private sector ones, so a bit of a resync was required.

Also note that the figures show the largest rises in construction and hospitality, not areas know for hiring lots of "top end of the pay scale" people.

Yes, I saw that myself. Doesn't really make much sense, but then I guess hospitality for instance covers a huge range of people.