2nd April 2009, 10:06 PM
seems to me that Dr Pete has some points...
What contractors charge is indeed between them and the client. That the work is being done to the required standard is the concern of the curators. If three shaved monkeys can do the jobs of 3 POs, then the curator can't justifiably do anything, and it suggests that either the monkeys are underpaid, or the POs are overqualified and either will in time leave for better things (bananas in my experience). If, however, the monkeys stuff the job up, the curator has every right to kick off. It's a business risk, and the contract manager's choice.
The tax situation could be seen as unfair, but we're missing something in the hand wringing... if I was working for Borsetshire, and send away from home to work on a road scheme in deepest Rutshire, I'd expect the Borset Trust to catch my accomadation and travel. I'd also be unhappy that the unemployed staff of the Rutshire unit who lived 5 miles from site then got paid a subsidy for their accomadation that they already had, leaving ME under-paid in comparison despite years of loyal service to the Borset Trust.
What contractors charge is indeed between them and the client. That the work is being done to the required standard is the concern of the curators. If three shaved monkeys can do the jobs of 3 POs, then the curator can't justifiably do anything, and it suggests that either the monkeys are underpaid, or the POs are overqualified and either will in time leave for better things (bananas in my experience). If, however, the monkeys stuff the job up, the curator has every right to kick off. It's a business risk, and the contract manager's choice.
The tax situation could be seen as unfair, but we're missing something in the hand wringing... if I was working for Borsetshire, and send away from home to work on a road scheme in deepest Rutshire, I'd expect the Borset Trust to catch my accomadation and travel. I'd also be unhappy that the unemployed staff of the Rutshire unit who lived 5 miles from site then got paid a subsidy for their accomadation that they already had, leaving ME under-paid in comparison despite years of loyal service to the Borset Trust.