Self Employment

[Unitof1]

my price reflects my product

Caveat emptor

[trainedchimp]

:face-approve:

[Unitof1]

the working party should also look into the copyrights of the selfemployed.

[chiz]

Maybe if you're a specialist of some sort, but there's absolutely no way that a Field Archaeologist could charge ?200 a day.

I think we're maybe in danger of missing the point of that ?200, which is what is a comparible rate for each level/grade of work as a freelancer compared to the relevent salary? For a Mifa level job the comparible rate was worked out at about ?200 a day and this work could mean running sites, watching briefs, doing freelance desktops, writing eval/site reports, post-excavation analysis, training, illustration, and sometimes (happy days) actually just digging on a site, all of which I have done for that rate. It could also mean any other specialist role from pottery reports to consultancy. So yes a Field Archaeologist CAN get that rate when doing MIFA level work. And if you are properly freelance then almost by its very nature you are stepping up a 'grade' in terms of having to run your own business and being truly responsible for your own work.

At the other end of the spectrum as an entry level digger the salary option is say about ?15600, so David has worked out that that compares to about ?100-110 a day. I personally think that is a bit low due to the extra responsibility and risks, but it sounds roughly ok for someone with maybe a few months to a year of experience. I would think that anyone at that level would be better off learning their trade in a unit, but for many it is the only way into employment and gaining commercial experience. For a more experienced archaeologist the rate should be accordingly higher, as well as being higher for more responsibility. You also have to remember that you have to pay for all your own transport and accomodation, which is going to be maybe ?50 a night if staying away. This needs to either be included in your day rate (raising it) or added on as a separate charge to the client.

Personally (as I have said) I don't think the freelance model will work for the industry as a whole, but it has a part to play and can suit certain people very well, either as part or whole of their employment. I know numerous archaeologists who do freelance work for parts of the year, often abroad, and then travel, or take the odd short term contract as an employee. Maybe its a reflection of the nature of archaeology, but I see the same pattern in other industries too, so its not all down to the dysfunctionality of our profession.

The article was intended to air the subject, its not proposing the entire industry go freelance. If the Ifa is going to look into the issues raised by trainedchimp about bogus self-employed, and maybe publish comparible rates to try and drive up rates to above ?100 at the very least, then great. I would suggest that they publish guidance notes for those employing freelancers as well and make that binding into the code of conduct so that we can get comparible rates whether freelance or employed and end the days of just dividing salary by 200 as trainedchimp says!

David publishing comparitor rates is a good start. :face-approve:As he says though, people can charge what they like, but they get what they pay for. Day rates are harder to control than salaries (which are hard enough), and I doubt whether the really low payers will disappear entirely as there will always be people desperate for a first job. As long as they are aware of the realities of the situation, and aren't doing anything illegal/going to get hammered by HMRC then I guess we'll have to live with that.

[BAJR]

compares to about ?100-110 a day. I personally think that is a bit low due to the extra responsibility and risks, but it sounds roughly ok for someone with maybe a few months to a year of experience. I would think that anyone at that level would be better off learning their trade in a unit

i would agree with that statement... to be a self employed digger is quite tricky and needs thought... at that level, it would be better in an employed situation. these things are in effect legal requirements and so should not need debate... rather implimentation of law.

my calculation ( rough just now) is 160 ish for a proper experienced field arch who is totally independant in actio... needing only being told here is the trench, this is our recording system... on you go. tightening up the labour only and true self employed would be useful. can the ifa do that? not sure.

[chiz]

my calculation ( rough just now) is 160 ish for a proper experienced field arch who is totally independant in actio... needing only being told here is the trench, this is our recording system... on you go. tightening up the labour only and true self employed would be useful. can the ifa do that? not sure.

So its actually ?160 a day for a proper archaeologist then? sounds about right to me for what I would regard as a real archaeologist rather than de-skilled trenchfodder, 'totally independant in action', well, I know what you mean, but of course everyone working on site needs to be working together and following the WSI and research aims etc etc under the direction of the supervisor.

Of course how many ?160 a day diggers does a site need, and how many on ?110 a day? But that is maybe a different thread....

Back on topic extrapolating up you can see that getting to ?200 is roughly correct. It may be 'Dream money' but that IS the comparative day rate to a PO level wage. But then how do we enforce these rates? And how do we judge when someone is good enough! Do we leave it to the market? Or encourage the professional body to develop guidance and advice for freelancers and employers of freelancers and try and bind them in somehow?

I don't know if the ifa can do it, but they are looking into it, andwe shall see. It will obviously take time, maybe they should look at rolling this together with developing their new approach to pay bands?

[trainedchimp]

ightening up the labour only and true self employed would be useful. can the ifa do that? not sure

would've thought HMRC and HSE would be better placed for that meself...:face-stir:

[BAJR]

Thats the rub... all that is required... is er... obeying the law! So the IfA don't really need to tell companies what they should already legally be doing.... Neither do I... however, it does seem I have to from time to time...

Take for example a simple H&S requirement....

All employers, whatever the size of the business, must:

• make the workplace safe
  
• prevent risks to health
  
• ensure that plant and machinery is safe to use, and that safe working practices are set up and followed
  
• make sure that all materials are handled, stored and used safely
  
• provide adequate first aid facilities
  
• tell you about any potential hazards from the work you do, chemicals and other substances used by the firm, and give you information, instructions, training and supervision as needed
  
• set up emergency plans
  
• make sure that ventilation, temperature, lighting, and toilet, washing and rest facilities all meet health, safety and welfare requirements
  
• check that the right work equipment is provided and is properly used and regularly maintained
  
• prevent or control exposure to substances that may damage your health
  
• take precautions against the risks caused by flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise and radiation
  
• avoid potentially dangerous work involving manual handling and if it can't be avoided, take precautions to reduce the risk of injury
  
• provide health supervision as needed
  
• provide protective clothing or equipment free of charge if risks can't be removed or adequately controlled by any other means
  
• ensure that the right warning signs are provided and looked after
  
• report certain accidents, injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the local authority, depending on the type of business
  

So that the work premises provide a safe and healthy place to work, your employer should:

• make sure that workplaces are properly ventilated, with clean and fresh air
  
• keep temperatures at a comfortable level - a minimum of 13 degrees C where the work involves physical activity or 16 degrees C for 'sedentary' workplaces eg offices but there's no maximum limit
  
• light premises so that employees can work and move about safely
  
• keep the workplace and equipment clean
  
• ensure that workrooms are big enough to allow easy movement with at least 11 cubic metres per person
  
• provide workstations to suit the employees and the work
  
• keep the workplace and equipment in good working order
  
• make floors, walkways, stairs, roadways etc safe to use
  
• protect people from falling from height or into dangerous substances
  
• store things so they are unlikely to fall and cause injuries
  
• fit openable windows, doors and gates with safety devices if needed
  
• provide suitable washing facilities and clean drinking water
  
• if necessary, provide somewhere for employees to get changed and to store their own clothes
  
• set aside areas for rest breaks and to eat meals, including suitable facilities for pregnant women and nursing mothers
  
• let employees take appropriate rest breaks and their correct holiday entitlement
  
• make sure that employees who work alone, or off-site, can do so safely and healthily
  

You also have responsibilities for your own health and safety at work. You can refuse to do something that isn't safe without being threatened with disciplinary action.
If you think your employer isn't meeting their responsibilities, talk to them first. Your safety representative or a trade union official may be able to help you with this. As a last resort, you may need to report your employer to the Health and Safety Executive or to the environmental health department of your local authority.
If you are dismissed for refusing to undertake an unsafe working practice, you may have a right to claim unfair dismissal at an Employment Tribunal.


THats not guidance... not a standard to be aspired to... its the law... its a requirement... it is enforceable... with a slightly harsher penalty than being reassessed for RO status.






Lets be absolutely clear...


Welfare facilities

Toilets, wash-hand basins, shower and washing facilities

You must provide:

• clean well-ventilated toilets (separate for men and women unless each convenience has its own lockable door);
  
• wash basins with hot and cold (or warm) running water;
  
• showers for dirty work which may result in contamination of the skin;
  
• soap and towels (or a hand drier).
  

Drinking water

You must supply high-quality drinking water, with and upward drinking jet or suitable cups. Drinking water does not have to be marked unless there is a significant risk of people drinking non-drinking water.
Accommodation for clothing and changing facilities

You must provide lockers or hanging space for clothing and changing facilities where workers wear special clothing. The facilities should allow for drying clothes.
Facilities to rest and eat meals

You must provide places to eat, and rest facilities if you have pregnant women and nursing mothers on your staff.


If you are on a site that does not provide these then they are breaking the law... simple... no ifs or buts... but an offence is committed. Perhaps it is time to start taking a bit of personal responsibility... and think about the unions as your backup.


No offence IfA the standards and guidance are good, but basicly, they are telling people to obey the law of the land. and we must all ensure this happens. :face-confused:

[Unitof1]

None of which apply to the self employed

[SIZE=3]And if you are properly freelance then almost by its very nature you are stepping up a 'grade' in terms of having to run your own business and being truly responsible for your own work

.[/SIZE]

I disagree. I don’t see any reason why it is stepping up a grade. What it is possibly pointing out is that archaeology has been for too long been exploiting grades below an acceptable standard-who lack responsibility for their work. The example being diggers with degrees and “unqualified” diggers. The ifa has tried to equate the two at the start of their careers when what should be happening is that graduates start on a grade that the unqualified cannot ever achieve without qualifications and which no amount of experience can overcome (except by demand in selfemployment)....

[BAJR]

Although self-employed workers are not covered by the Directives on health and safety at work, notably Directive 89/391/EEC, they are very often subject to health and safety risks similar to those experienced by employees.
Moreover, there are a large number of self-employed workers in certain "high-risk" sectors such as agriculture, fishing, construction, and transport.
For this reason the Council recommends that Member States promote prevention policies as well as health and safety at work measures, notably via awareness-raising campaigns, as well as access to training and health surveillance.

And its not quite true to say the legal requirements for HEalth and Safety do not apply to Self Employed... I am sure you would agree... lets be clear that there are legal duties under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requiring employers and the self-employed to ensure that their work activities do not put others at risk, and to share information relating to any required emergency procedures and information.

So although you may not feel you need a portaloo... or you feel you may not need washing facilities.. you may want to check your own risk assessment and ensure that you can legally dispense with that requirement...

The law applies to you as well....