3rd March 2012, 07:53 PM
Hi Unit, thanks for the reply. I do see what you are saying (which makes a pleasant change) but I still think you have it round the wrong way. You seem to be starting from wanting to see certain results from the survey to confirm your beliefs that self-employment is a better way; we started with as few preconceptions as possible and have let the results speak for themselves. We haven't produced a polemical diatribe, but I hope a reasoned and balanced report that really adds to the debate. Some may be dissapointed that we aren't ranting, but I think our attitude is a better one.
We did have some self-employed archaeologists reply to the survey, they certainly did see it as being for archaeologists. I personally feel the whole area of SE needs more attention and it would be an intriguing area to investigate. I also agree (as a former freelancer) that it is a viable and satisfying way to be an archaeologist, but it is not (under the present system) the only way, nor is it suitable for most archaeologists at the start of their career. But yes, tax-deductable costs do change ones attitude to certain 'problems', but being able to charge a decent day rate would help more.
Being freelance is certainly a way to mitigate the 'problems' of archaeological employment, but unfortunately many archaeological freelancers just don't charge enough and don't understand enough about being self-employed (and many are being just as manipulated and underpaid by archaeological companies that sub out to them).
Should the IfA/BAJR etc do more to explain how SE works or try and perhaps negotiate with the HMRC? Quite possibly, and its something the Diggers' Forum addresses every now and then with articles and input into guidance (well there had to be guidance didn't there!), but we do have a lot of issues to cover and we try and concentrate on where we can make most impact for most Diggers. Writing a 'how to be a freelance archaeologist' would be useful, but to my mind until the 'self-employed' market in archaeological field staff sorts itself out, I'm not going to be encouraging anyone to join it that can't work out how to do it on their own.
We did have some self-employed archaeologists reply to the survey, they certainly did see it as being for archaeologists. I personally feel the whole area of SE needs more attention and it would be an intriguing area to investigate. I also agree (as a former freelancer) that it is a viable and satisfying way to be an archaeologist, but it is not (under the present system) the only way, nor is it suitable for most archaeologists at the start of their career. But yes, tax-deductable costs do change ones attitude to certain 'problems', but being able to charge a decent day rate would help more.
Being freelance is certainly a way to mitigate the 'problems' of archaeological employment, but unfortunately many archaeological freelancers just don't charge enough and don't understand enough about being self-employed (and many are being just as manipulated and underpaid by archaeological companies that sub out to them).
Should the IfA/BAJR etc do more to explain how SE works or try and perhaps negotiate with the HMRC? Quite possibly, and its something the Diggers' Forum addresses every now and then with articles and input into guidance (well there had to be guidance didn't there!), but we do have a lot of issues to cover and we try and concentrate on where we can make most impact for most Diggers. Writing a 'how to be a freelance archaeologist' would be useful, but to my mind until the 'self-employed' market in archaeological field staff sorts itself out, I'm not going to be encouraging anyone to join it that can't work out how to do it on their own.