7th February 2009, 08:07 PM
Sorry to sound a bit dim on this subject.
I?ve been working in archaeology for 3yrs now and have a vague idea what different geologies, depths, dimensions of working space, feature inspiration, feature absorption, let alone personal life can do to your work rate.
They say just to be consistent and that?s it.
So, if I was in the position of needing to work out a realistic tender work rate, I would need to have an idea about:
The site geology (time of likely survival, bleaching, blinding of sections especially in relation to the weather).
What the general weather will be like (baked/ sticky/ jarring clay).
My consitent dig rate.
My consitent recording rate.
My fastest dig rate.
My fastest recording rate.
A summary of the archaeology that may potentially be present (type, character, date, period, diversity, density, survival condition) (OMG where did all this come from).
How important the site really is in the grand scheme.
How important the site is in the digger team scheme of things (if you aint worked in months its going to be a pleasure).
And (theoretically), the knowledge and understanding of my own ability /inclination as to finding, understanding and recording the said work (the fine professional balance of reality, expectation and the differential skill levels of a wide ranged subjectively experienced work force).
Tax deductibles.
The different types of acceptability of PPE, for different conditions (knowing when to be resolute and when to be flexible).
Tax groups.
Tax form filling in.
Accounting databases.
Extensive knowledge on employee rights.
Insurance policies available for varying periods, conditions and geographical boundaries.
The level of independence required, needed and wanted (we are a whiley set, after all).
What the County Archaeologist?s specs? are.
What the County Archaeologist?s specs? mean.
What the County Archaeologist is.
Who the County Archaeologist is.
Am I as a self-employed individual, eligable for the ?2500 from the government, for employing someone who has not been employed for 6months?
It sounds an awful lot like being in considerable control over a great deal of issues at a potentially ignorant level.
You can?t get a job without experience and no-one will give you a job to get the experience, let alone the fall back position of PIFA
Unless in one place exposed to a multitude of different types and the varied character of archaeological, how does anyone get to a position where they can make those valued judgements without getting personally declared BANKRUPT.
So if the tenders are guided, then are they guided by experience, or opportunity?
Who are the informed and reliable, that would show the ropes?
Who in the current climate would teach someone the ropes in a way where they would not end up hanging themselves?
If the County Archaeologist is going to check the principle archaeological contractor?s quality control, does that mean that they will have to check all the major and or important site defining slots of each self-employed archaeologist?
There is always advice available here on line, but what about in the moment facing the situations down?
If the climate melts down a bit further, the self-employed will be the first line of trowel fodder pushed out the door of future participation, either by bad blood, or financial necessity to put food and a roof over their heads.
This is that they could be set up, on the back of the principle as damage control to their own financial ruin, let alone the classic avoidance. We see developers hanging, drawing and quartering, sub-contractors on a regular basis when the principle messes up on a coma or two.
This is not to say it?s a bad idea, I think maybe it?s a sprig of light for consortiums tendering against, large national outfits.
Sub-contract in with short run stretched over-heads with well respected Project Managers, running the shows, based on good relations with possible principles.
Former, higher levels could take the hit of redundancy on the back of knowing what you really need, cost and accrue, on the side, a higher rate of pay to tide over the difference in pay.
Should this form of self-employment be reserved for the experienced, where the IFA could actually check its individual professional member?s standards and not just the classic check list of the old Registered Archaeological Organisations?
But I guess that would depend on the structure of FAME, SCAUM and the IFA.
It could, on the other hand, have the affect of a series of cluster flash bangs on the industry, when we are effectively still getting over the last (single and first) one.
txt
Mike