Self Employed Diggers Again

[BAJR Host]

Employed or Self-Employed in Archaeology
(Guidance notes for Employers and Casual Workers)
http://www.bajr.org/Documents/Employed_SelfEmployed.pdf

I had an interesting conversation with a director today, when I became aware that they were 'employing' diggers as self employed. for 300 quid a week.

I was informed that the inland revenue was happy, that the staff all have their own insurance, and pay their own tax, national insurance etc. hoidays, sickness and pension.. is all up to the staff, and use of own vehicules is reimbursed (I cerainly hope they have the correct insurance for work related use of car) etc etc... they are also being provided with free accomodation.. ( oh no ! )

I you are in a situation like this - please read the document... there could be consequences - from the TAX... let alone the income!

Think about it... if you are on £300 a week ... you lose circa £32 quid a week.. which takes you down to 268 quid... and thats before the costs for insurance, national insurance of about £3 week don't forget the insurance costs, and if you don't work... you don't get paid.... waterproofs? you pay for them, work boots... you pay, accomodation... you pay, and then reclaim as a business expense, fuel, travel, etc etc.... you pay... then reclaim as a business expense... and remember the INLAND REVENUE don't care if you think you are self employed...

in a few test cases, apart from a few genuine self employed diggers, the result is the same...

you are employed if:
#61656; Do you have to do the work yourself?
#61656; Can someone tell you at any time what to do, where to carry out the work or when and how to do it?
#61656; Do you work a set amount of hours?
#61656; Can someone move you from task to task?
#61656; Are you paid by the hour, week, or month?

For 300 quid a week, you are nowhere near the money you need to be really self employed.

The company will remain nameless... however, I will be keeping an eye open, and will discuss with the local tax office their views.








"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[mercenary]

?300 a week!!!!!!!! An absolutely shocking self employed rate. At present I am working with a bunch of self employeds and the range of weekly rates is ?650 to ?800 plus mileage. This is for new diggers to project officer levels of experience.

Those on ?300 should jump ship. We need people now as it happens.

[BAJR Host]

the rates you are talking about are what you should be getting as self employed... to deal with all the requirements.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[oldgirl]

I do know some people who choose to be self-employed and don't want to be 'on the books'. But they understand the implications and charge accordingly.

Personally, I prefer to be employed!

[beamo]

We have just sent out a small team of self-employed archaeologists to do a couple of months overseas (N Africa) - they are being paid ?300 per day (and it is a 7 day week).

If you have any additional details that may help us inadvertently identify the organisation that is paying ?300 p/w in the UK then stick them up. As a consultant I very much like to exercise my right to advise my clients as to the types of contractors that should and should not be invited to tender for work.


Beamo

[2pintsofbitter]

[hm]I have just accepted work with a company at the rates you have discussed. When there is no work there is no choice. I am also caught up in the accommodation tax fiasco so need to be earning something!

[Oxbeast]

Thats a real bind, 2pints of bitter. However, I'd suggest finding something to do outside archaeology, rather than digging yourself into an even bigger tax hole: I see that this lot are offering free accommodation as well...

[2pintsofbitter]

I know I could be creating some real problems for myself but it is only a month contract to start with and thought I'd give it a try. I know a few people who work for them and have done so for years without problems. You just need a good accountant. I am loath to leave archaeology as it is where I want to work. I gave up a career (in accountancy) to do this so I am taking the risk. I would love a steady job in a local unit but this appears to be impossible. If nothing else it would stop units for saying things like "so essentially you're a circuit digger (with a snear in their voice)" when applying for work. As if any of us are in this situation by choice

[Oxbeast]

Thats awful, 2pints. No-one should have to be sneered at for trying to stay in work: the industry relies on circuit diggers. I suspect that these are the type of managers who lay people off and expect them to hang around on the dole waiting for a phone call. Maybe you can make some money on the side doing the accounts for your colleagues, like in 'The Shawshank Redemption'. All the best.

[Austin Ainsworth]

2pints,

Oxbeast is giving you good advice. You're already being looked at by the tax office over the taxable accommodation issue, do you really want to make it worse by putting yourself in a position where they may have very good grounds for challenging your self-employed status. If you haven't done so already read Hosty's guide to self-employment. I was planning to set myself up as a freelance archaeologist a few months ago and after checking out all that it entails decided that the risks, (confusion by archaeological contractors over what constitutes self-employment), weren't worth it. There are other ways to ride out the credit crunch, stay in work which is heritage based and be self-employed. If you have experience of checking reports (quality assurance) then freelance copy editing pays c.20 GBP per hour or if you have written DBAs then you could set yourself up as a freelance researcher, c.650-800 GBP per week; both of which do fulfil the criteria for self-employment.

(edited for sp.)