Guide for Self Employment

[BAJR Host]

Lets get started.

What Sections do we need...

• Insurance
• Terms and Conditions
• Payment
• Tax
• Contracts

Once we have the sections worked out, we can subdivide the thread.. and work on each section separately..

And thanks to Matt I will then open up a document on Writeboard.. give you passwords and we can all work on the document 'live'








?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[kevin wooldridge]

Health and Safety



With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[chiz]

Ok, so the doc is going to be off-forum? A good idea probably.


As well as the 'technical' info by section (can't think of any more offhand, H&S is a good addition), an intro section would be good, outlining the areas where freelancers work and a bit of background. And some case studies, eg the 'foreign sites' digger, the illustrator, the finds specialist. Plus common misconceptions and pitfalls.
And at the end a checklist for costs so people can work out if they think it is viable for them?

[BAJR Host]

yes it will be

If people want to contribute... they can email me info@bajr.org and I will provide a link and password



?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[drpeterwardle]

This is almost endless of what could be be included.

If the guide is intended to help people set up then I think the most important thing would be a list of advantages and dis-advantages of self employment.

I also think a guide to what qualifications, accreditations and experience is neccessary before you can offer certain types of work. One of the things about self employment is that you have to be able to garantuee your work.

Peter

[Paul Belford]

This looks like it will be a potentially useful document.

Incidentally, archaeologists could do a lot worse than have a look at the RIBA's guidance on 'Starting a Practice'. This looks at many of the issues involved in setting up your own business and in my view is well worth the ?17.95, even if you choose not to go down that particular route. Although aimed at architects, a lot of what it says is relevant to other professions.

[chiz]

quote:Originally posted by drpeterwardle
If the guide is intended to help people set up then I think the most important thing would be a list of advantages and dis-advantages of self employment.

I also think a guide to what qualifications, accreditations and experience is neccessary before you can offer certain types of work. One of the things about self employment is that you have to be able to garantuee your work.

Peter

Indeed. It can seem like freelance is a land of milk and honey, colleagues returning from the near east with tales of ?20K for 6 months work... you need to be rather good, and have the right connections, and luck, and not be bothered about going away for potentially months at a time . Not the life for everyone. And being stuck in a Turkish compound miles from anywhere wears thin after a while apparently...
And nearer to home, aside from specialists, how many units actually use freelance diggers? I'd be interested to know. Its not a lot in the South East, although apparently more up north, and possibly west. I've worked for a unit as freelance on site for a while, only to be told that they won't be able to continue using me (despite wanting to) as their HR were getting iffy, presumably over both self-employed rules, plus the effect on the employed workforce. And anyway, is freelance diggers a good thing? I personally think the wholesale freelancing of archaeological 'labour' would be a retrograde step.

BUT, a technical guide making it easier for people to make an informed choice would be very useful. Although I do think it will need running past a lawyer!

[BAJR Host]

would you like to help create it... with the final caveat of looking at the legal detail


?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[BAJR Host]

so come on in... the possibility is fun... a serious document for the federation


?When a sinister person means to be your enemy, they always start by trying to become your friend.?
William Blake

[chiz]

quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host

would you like to help create it... with the final caveat of looking at the legal detail

you talkin to me?

I've already said I'm in. Not that I'm any expert.
I volunteer to write the bit about making people pay up.

'On every street in every city there's a nobody who dreams of being a somebody'