IfA declare rate minimas for next April

[Tool]

It's not the only issue raised by people concerning that particular company... Not one I'd be looking to work for, that's for sure!

I've not personally heard of that situation in the construction industry, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

[kevin wooldridge]

Do they? And no I'm not taking the whatsit, I've just not seen any evidence that IfA membership plays any part in an employer's remuneration policy as opposed to provable ability/word of mouth/market forces.

How long is a piece of string? They either pay the IfA minima because they want to be RAO or because they pay the minima they are able to become RAOs...I don't think it could be anymore explicit than that.

[Dinosaur]

OK, just to :face-stir: a wee bit - how many units/employers/companies/whatever-you-want-to-call-'ems actually take any notice of IfA membership? I've seen adverts where there is some general platitude to IfA members, but nothing to suggest that it would have any bearing on pay or position.

I've certainly done plenty of jobs in the past where the ad said 'IFA membership preferred' [even one where it said 'IFA members only should apply', although as far as I know no one risks that any more], but reality kicked in when it came to actually came to employing people

[P Prentice]

OK, just to :face-stir: a wee bit - how many units/employers/companies/whatever-you-want-to-call-'ems actually take any notice of IfA membership? I've seen adverts where there is some general platitude to IfA members, but nothing to suggest that it would have any bearing on pay or position.

if employers put in their advert 'ifa membership preferred' then you can bet that when there is a glut of applications the selection criteria checklist will have a box for this aspect, just as it will for relevant amount of time in the field and cscs card etc. maybe not a problem at the moment because there is a shortage but this situation will not persist.

[Jack]

I'd like your (as in everyone's) opinion on this: there is an archaeology contractor that advertises for temp. staff once in a while. Their rates of pay seem on a par, but they do say that although they provide transport/accommodation as appropriate, there is a charge. Now I think this is taking the piss, but what do you think?

Seems rather cheeky to ask people to pay to work away. Would it be cheaper to sort out your own accommodation/transport? Where do the contracts in question say you are being employed to work?, the site or their office?
Does seem to stray into the allowable expense/Taxable benefit confusion territory (ducks }) though.

Of course if you were self-employed both would fall into allowable expenses for yourself (if you also 'work at home') so you could claim it back against your tax........

[Tool]

Seems rather cheeky to ask people to pay to work away. Would it be cheaper to sort out your own accommodation/transport? Where do the contracts in question say you are being employed to work?, the site or their office?
Does seem to stray into the allowable expense/Taxable benefit confusion territory (ducks }) though.

Of course if you were self-employed both would fall into allowable expenses for yourself (if you also 'work at home') so you could claim it back against your tax........

Thankfully it doesn't apply to me - the crowd I work for are pretty good at providing digs, transport, paying for driving and paying subsistence. Which is nice. The company that advertises charging for such things though don't have a god reputation amongst the few people I've met who've worked for them. Deffo on the list of I'd Rather Stack Shelves For a Few Months...

[Jack]

if employers put in their advert 'ifa membership preferred' then you can bet that when there is a glut of applications the selection criteria checklist will have a box for this aspect, just as it will for relevant amount of time in the field and cscs card etc. maybe not a problem at the moment because there is a shortage but this situation will not persist.

Yep, right on. You want to get ticks in as many of the boxes as you can in an application matrix, (or whatever they are called). But you don't always have to get them all.

But often its actually the personal touch that gets you a job (oo er).

That is, reputation, or a reference from someone that the employer respects. Sounds a bit corrupt and nepotistic when written down in print!

[Tool]

So Jack and PP, who would you rather employ? Someone with xIfA after their name, or someone without but who, according to someone you trust, is a good worker, tidy, punctual, responsible, gets on well with those around them... none of which are directly (or even indirectly) indicated by membership of the IfA?

[Jack]

I'm not a member of the IfA...............so that should answer your question.

However, the first doesn't always preclude the second.

[kevin wooldridge]

So Jack and PP, who would you rather employ? Someone with xIfA after their name, or someone without but who, according to someone you trust, is a good worker, tidy, punctual, responsible, gets on well with those around them... none of which are directly (or even indirectly) indicated by membership of the IfA?

Two ways of looking at that. In the first instance asking friends of friends if they know of a person who might be available for work tends to be a situation where the job is not being openly advertised. I personally don't have a problem with that. It happens. However if you are openly advertising and receiving a mass of applications from folk you have never heard of, then IfA membership is another factor you might want to take into account when drawing up a shortlist.

I guess, the clever punter, if applying to a company that doesn't hold a lot of faith in the IfA, might leave 'membership' off their CV, vice versa for a company that encourages IfA membership. But at least IfA members have that as a possibility, non-IfA members don't...much in the same way as leaving your PhD off your CV if you apply for one of those companies that seems strong on the 'horny handed son of the earth' or including it if you are applying for a job at Borchester University....

CVs after all don't have to tell the whole truth, providing they tell no lies!!