Employment Rights for 'self-employed' - Unite Union does its stuff

[Geli]

Yeah Unitof1 it's my first year of self assessment. Just hope I've got it all figured out for offsetting stuff against tax, otherwise it probably won't have been worth the hassle on the low rates I receive!

[Unitof1]

Keep it in mind that every pound you pay in tax could has been invested by you in you this last year. As I understand it some MPs bought bath plugs… and another point is there is nothing wrong in making a “loss”

http://www.litrg.org.uk/help/lowincome/selfemployed/losses.cfm


where it is wrong is that your union friends and your professional body wont give you a jot of advice about being self employed or the self assesment.

[BAJR]

And neither will you... ? IS this the way of the world now... I demand people do stuff for me... it's all about what I can get out of it... what's in it for me? There is no real appreciation of cooperation and support.

As BAJR I am used to creating (or more often, getting help to create) Guides where guides do not exist, or advice where it is needed. People help, give their time for free.. and for what... only to help and share.

When I brought out teh Self Employed gudie on BAJR... Uo1 complained... now you complain that nobody gives any advice. Well whoop - de - do... pull finger out and show what you can do... make an effort, be magnanimous... stop opening mouth and complaining or undermining. Do something positive, make a difference, or lose your moral high ground.

You seem to know loads about being self employed... well share it. Put your time where your mouth is... I would be more than happy to see such a guide .

[Tillet]

Dear Unitof1,

We seem slightly at cross purposes. In my post I was concentrating on the situation that enforced 'self employment' can have on those that end up in it because they feel they've no other choise. Personally I have no problem with self employment if that is a choise that an individual wishes to make and for some there is no doubt that it is a viable and realistic option. As it happens there are any number of advantages to those who choose self employment to beimng in a union,just check out the membership services on the Unite website.Other unions, for example Prospect undoubtedly offer a very similar range of benfits and sevices. However we must recognise that the majority of workers in archaeology are employees and having the benefits of union representation are obvious; a chance to improve pay and conditions, and a powerful voice in all the debates and discussions concerning the future of archaeology in Britain. Curiously, if it is possible to make progress in these areas (and there are no quick fixes to this) then not only would those that are employed feel the benefits but so would those who are self employed in terms of improved payments and condidtions! So join in,sign up and take part in something positive!

[Tillet]

Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Unitof1]

Dear Tillet

I have tried the unite and prospect web sites for self employed support. Possibly because I am not an intranet member I could not find any support for the self employed. Could you direct me to some examples? Prospect has a manifesto for archaeology which might be full of the joys of self-employment but u have to be member to see it

[SIZE=3]As many of us have experienced work is thin on the ground so we have to take what's available. In my case the only work I could attract was with a employer who seemingly only employs people on a self employed basis. Being new to the whole self employment game I entered into this situation with quite a high level of naivety and have begun to realize that the terms of my employment are perhaps not all they may appear to be –

[/SIZE]
Geli what does your contract say about copyright?

[BAJR Host]

Unit of One... I ask again... will you provide information on Self Employment. or are you just wanting it given to you?

Do you need help for free

[Unitof1]

Hosty as I understand it you a bit of watching brief, building recording, small evaluation. Do you do that as self employed?

[BAJR Host]

I act as a sole trader in that respect with all the relevant legalities , I also carry out illustration as a self employed individual where I cost the work and provide a quote, taking the hit if it takes longer and the benefit if it does not... ie a true self employed person - although I may be working 'for' someone else as part of the team.

Anyway I await your ah-ha response.

[Unitof1]

Have you ever done any "digging" under a self employed banner?

hope that I am not being too one liner