11th September 2010, 11:00 AM
Mike.T. Wrote: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.