Just don’t know what to do - self employed

Hello123_2

I was made redundant Nov 2019 & have been self employed since then working for a building company on their building sites.

I didn’t have any work from March 2020-Aug 2020 with lockdown. I got UC as wasn’t eligible for any self employment help. Got a mortgage holiday but still racked up some credit cards trying to stay afloat. 

Today I’ve got to site - there’s no hand washing facilities and no toilet. As all the pipes are frozen.
The Site Managers Wife tested positive for Covid on Monday but he’s still on site. He’s been in every day.

I can’t walk off as I won’t get paid. I’ve raised hygiene concerns with the site supervisor, he said well take it or leave it because I’m self employed I don’t have a leg to stand on.

I don’t know what to do. My wife works part time min wage and I have a 4 year old, bills to pay. I’ve looked for other jobs but it would be a big pay cut that I can’t afford. And would be hard to get back into construction as my tickets expire if I don’t work continuously.

There’s also talk of construction sites possibly closing again in a few weeks following Ireland & Scotland. Will there ever be any financial help for someone like me? Do I have any rights whatsoever? Or do I just shut up & put up so I don’t end up jobless?

Grumpy_chap

You are in a difficult position and it is rather your last line that applies "put up or shut up so you don't end jobless".
I know that does not help in any way, but it is the harsh reality.  Maybe the Site Manager is coming in despite his wife testing positive because he may also be sole trader.

The on-site arrangements is only something you can work at a local level on site with the Supervisor / Site Manager.  It does not sound as though they are being very co-operative. 
Is it possible you can also take some positive steps on your own account?  For example, wear face mask, gloves, use disinfectant wipes, hand sanitiser.  You may feel the Client should pay for this, but it is a low cost and may be worth you accepting the cost if it makes you feel more comfortable at work.
Are the water pipes above ground and somewhere they could be cleared?  Unfortunately, again, this is something that happens on construction sites and it is normally just tolerated.  It was never correct to be that way, and COVID simply makes it worse.

The construction industry seems to be very busy in my area.  If that is also the case in your area, you may be able to find an alternative assignment for a different Client.  Even if that is an option, that does not guarantee that the new site will be any better in terms of their arrangements than the current site.

Talk of construction sites closing across the country is merely speculation - I don't think the first national lockdown actually required construction to stop, though many sites did.

In terms of financial support, the dates when you went self-employed mean that SEISS 1, 2, 3 are not available and I assume you do not have any business premises so not able to claim the premises-related grants.  You may be eligible for bounce-back loan (which is easiest if you operate with a business bank account). If you can get that, it is still a loan and will still need to be repaid but may be lower cost than credit cards.

If you leave the current job with nothing else lined up, it may impact eligibility for some benefits as you may be deemed to be "intentionally unemployed".  I am not an expert in this and there will be others that can comment more fully about benefits and this situation.

poppy12345

Grumpy_chap said:

If you leave the current job with nothing else lined up, it may impact eligibility for some benefits as you may be deemed to be "intentionally unemployed".  I am not an expert in this and there will be others that can comment more fully about benefits and this situation.

Yes, without good reason, leaving your job could result in a sanction of up to 26 weeks.

Hello123_2

Thanks. I don’t want to leave my job, just getting frustrated that we are forgotten about re hygiene & financially.

Yes the site supervisor won’t get paid either if he self-isolates so that’s why he’s carrying on. 

I don’t have business premises or anything like that. I work for the same company & get picked up in the van in the morning with the other lads. I couldn’t for example do a job somewhere else then come back here next week. They tell me where to go, when, what time etc. 

They deduct my tax via CIS. I did my first return in April 2019. Thanks 

Hello123_2

Can anyone give me guidance?

comeandgo

You are self employed so take charge of yourself.  Get your own transport to work, get your own hand gel, get your own basin and large flask of hot water.  All the costs will be tax deductible when you do your tax returns.

Grumpy_chap

Hello123_2 said:

Can anyone give me guidance?

What guidance are you looking for over-and-above the nature of guidance already given above?
Maybe your OP has been mis-interpreted and there is a more focused question still.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

If you leave the current job with nothing else lined up, it may impact eligibility for some benefits as you may be deemed to be "intentionally unemployed".  I am not an expert in this and there will be others that can comment more fully about benefits and this situation.

Yes, without good reason, leaving your job could result in a sanction of up to 26 weeks.

I’m not sure that is true for self employed

Hello123_2

I do take my own gel & wipes. We share a van because it’s the work van, 3 of us live in the same area and the site is over an hour away.

I’m self employed but I only work for the same company/same person. I asked to be taken on properly and the manager said it’s too costly for them and they don’t want the hassle 

unholyangel

comeandgo said:

You are self employed so take charge of yourself.  Get your own transport to work, get your own hand gel, get your own basin and large flask of hot water.  All the costs will be tax deductible when you do your tax returns.

Dangerous advice to be giving. Expenses can only be deducted for tax purposes if they are wholly and exclusively incurred for business purposes. 

For example, transport to and from a permanent workplace is not tax deductible because it is considered ordinary commuting/expenditure of a personal purpose. 

macman

If you work on a daily basis for the same sole company, on their site, at their determined hours, and get there by transport supplied by them, then I doubt that for tax purposes you would be considered to be self employed? 
What are your tax and NI arrangements?
If your s/e status is OK, then It is possible that you might be eligible for SEISS 4th grant, based on s/e trading since Nov 2019. But we won't know if the eligibility dates will be altered to take into account trading in tax year 19/20 until probably late February.