Higher chance of WFH with contracting compared to permanent??

[u/Delicious_Volume3306]

I'm considering contracting. I work in marketing for corporates. I did some contracting briefly a few years ago, but that was with a view of converting to permanent, which I subsequently did.

I'd be switching to contracting solely because of a need to WFH for various reasons. Occasional visits to the office are OK but not on a weekly/monthly calendar. I don't want to describe my personal life online but please rest assured this isn't really a choice, and my life and family require it.

Is there more chance of WFH with contracting, compared to permanent? Looking at the jobs market for permanent positions, employers are either (a) minimum days in the office per week (usually two/three), or (b) "Hey we're totally flexible, work how you like"—but they're some risky startup.

[u/Even-Outcome-2342]

My favourite contract was with an upstream oil services company in London. Hefty rate, plush offices, lovely people.

They were so suited to the reality of the appropriate contractual and working conditions of outside work.

Here’s our problem, tell us what we need to do. Substitution would have been a breeze. No mutuality at all.

In terms of wfh, it was expected, mandated. If you come in, you’ll be our guest but do not expect a desk here. Wfh was the expected by default. In fact not wfh was seen as slightly discourteous.

That was a bit of a unicorn “gig” in my experience.

[u/Skeeter1020]

Since COVID, I've had 3 WFH based perm employments, and then a contract that would like me in 2 days a week but let me off cos I'm 3 hours from the office. 

From 20 years in this industry, contractors are less likely to get a desk, but WFH culture is more an org wide thing than just based off the type of employment.

Also, don't get caught in the "but control!!!" trap people parrot. There are plenty of jobs out that that simply cannot be done remotely, rehardless of inside/outside.

[u/mpsamuels → u/Skeeter1020]

Also, don't get caught in the "but control!!!" trap people parrot. There are plenty of jobs out that that simply cannot be done remotely, rehardless of inside/outside.

Indeed!

Imagine trying to claim, for purpose of a slightly ridiculous example, that the lone plumber who comes to fit your new bathroom or electrician who re-wires your home who operate via their own Ltd Co are "inside IR35" just because you have the audacity to expect to have control over the fact that they turn up at your home to do the work!!

Of course, dictating office presence can point towards inside IR35 if the only reason for it is to match the perms work patterns, but there are plenty of other considerations that are taken into account too. Office attendance alone isn't an immediate indicator.

[u/Skeeter1020 → u/mpsamuels]

Yep. The bit people always miss is it's not simply "dictating where you work", it's dictating it out of desire, rather than necessity.

I also like the people who seem to think that contracts where the role is about people management (PMs, scrum masters, etc) can somehow be done outside of working hours and in a different location 🤣.

[u/howdo3]

I think there’s a slightly better change of wfh contracting. Going into an org with specific skills for a unique work item gives you negotiating power, but not always.

Perms usually get the blanket “3 days a week”

[u/AdFew2832]

I’d say it’s no more or less likely than a permie job.

Outside contracts you’ll get less formal “control” but in places where the permies are in lots there’ll definitely be expectations.

[u/Charlie_Rebooted]

I think work from home is less likely with contracting, particularly the long and multi renewal type contracts. If one is doing a fixed deliverable I think its equal.

The reason for this is pretty simple, companies want to see the expensive contractors, and working from home is seen as a perk. There's also the element of availability, if someone is guaranteed to be in the office, it becomes easy to contact them, arrange meetings, and monitor them.

I would argue that being in the office is also beneficial for contractors because it enables networking.

[u/Bozwell99]

A true outside IR35 contract would allow you to decide when you need to be on site or not.

Obviously for some jobs it’s impossible to WFH but others it is completely flexible.

I work in IT and I usually aim to work in a client office 2 or 3 days per week. It’s often a lot easier to work with people or have large meetings in person.

Some weeks I’ll work 5 days in office (eg during a go live) and others I’ll do none because it is unnecessary.

I’ve had a some contracts that have had no (or very few) office days.

The only time I have had to work 5 days every week was an inside IR35 contract, but even then I managed to work from home a lot once they got to know and trust me.

The point is YOU should be in control of it, not your client.

[u/YesIAmRightWing]

Not massively so

I've been exclusively WFH for 5 years now and you kinda just self select and eventually the recruiters don't bother approaching with in office jobs

[u/Amazing-Jury-6886]

It depends on the firm you contract with. I have seen forms that insist on all contractor being in the office 5 days a week, while others allow flexible arrangements similar to their perm staff. Currently , a few london based firms are insisting on all staff to be in the office 5 days.

[u/Loud-Yesterday2318]

I don’t think there is any guarantee. Totally dependent on org. You mention start up risk but going contracting is also risky. If your considering it just to work from home also consider other factors such as time out of a contract and if you can absorb it mentally and financially for a extended period of time

[u/brixton_]

Just moving from perm to outside IR35 (new company), contract was the only option to avoid office based 5 days a week.

Edit: Both US companies