Lorien

Honestly choose them from a list Preferred supplier list mainly due to the cool name. The first few months noticed that payments were less than expected but kept quiet about due to me getting a big pay rise. When I wanted to get my pension contribution sent to my SIPP they initially told me it was possible but later they told me it was only with a select few that they are able to sent too. Had my extension 6 month later shortly after the NI rate was reduced. I get a new contract which i was requested to sign. Noticed by contract rate was not the same. I pushed back, as I said this is the incorrect correct amount. It was then i re I was then told i need to sign it otherwise i wont get paid (mafia tactics). I pushed back to the recruiter as well and she said they will get it resolved. This took a month a half to resolve and NASA withheld my 6 weekly payments until then and still pressuring me to sign this pathetic contract. Other than these two incidents with them i have to be honest and say the service was good and payments have never been late even though they are weekly but if you have issues with them it can be frustrating to deal with them as they don't seem to care.

I believe the service in my own experience was first class & I would not hesitate to use again if required.

Never any issues with exact, staff are always very helpful and very professional. Will continue to use in 2023.

New CDIO has set out a hostile environment for contractors. Most have left. Lorien are late payers.

I have been waiting over a year for Exact to sort out my payroll

In 2019 NatWest advised that all Technology contractors would be deemed inside IR35, PSCs would no longer be used and your options were to choose NatWest PAYE or via an Umbrella from a small list they had provided. This was effective April 2020, a year before implementation. No assessments were used and no uplift in day rate to cover the 'overheads' of working through an umbrella.

No chance here. Complete blanket. They had some contractors 10+ years hence the reason for IR35. The gravy train has derailed.

They have now backtracked on an uplift as people have left.

No SDS, complete blanket ban. Hope Vodafone were a bit more reasonable in their approach and engaged in a fair assessment and set an example for other companies.

I terminated my contact with GSK because they asked me to breach RI35 rules, I never worked the notice period, I informed them of the breach and left. My company was approached by GSK to provide services, the terms of my contract were negotiated direct yet due to GSK’s ways of working, I was pushed to work through Lorien. Lorien always assured our company that the contracts were RI35 compliant and they had engaged with QDOS to assess them, yet when I pointed out requests to breach RI35 Lorien didn’t offer any advice, they simply said it wasn’t their problem. So I decided to terminate the contract. Lorien didn’t care GSK didn’t care They simply found a replacement person willing to bow down to their bullying tactics.

They use Qdos. Contractor pays and fills out qdos questionnaire which client reviews and signs off. Contractor then provided with SDS deport. Clear communication throughout process and fast turnaround from offer to starting contract.

Risk-averse, so blanket decisions made. Appealed back in 2020 before the delay due to Covid, they wouldn't accept my CEST finding. Fast forward to 2021 and the same still applies. It's pointless appealing and PROVING that IR35 doesn't apply, as they will manipulate the wooly definitions within CEST in their favour. End client projects will be massively affected, but they don't care.

Individual assessment completed by contractor and assessed by third party. All contractors are labelled ‘external’ on emails and security passes There is clear separation from perm HR processes and benefits.

Qdos assessment used, fairly judged. Short term project based role.

ReAssure are using QDOS via Lorien as they did in readiness for April 2020. Due to the postponement of IR35 nothing happened with the original reviews as the IR35 determination was still the responsibility of the contractor. If a QDOS review was undertaken last year then the contractor reviews their previous answers and either updates their answer(s) or confirms that their position has not changed, the process takes c15 mins. The cost of the original QDOS review was paid for by the contractor, this time it is free. If the contractor started after April 2020 then they have to pay the full review cost of course as no previous review was undertaken. PSC are permitted as long as a QDOS review is conducted and the result is “outside IR35” obviously. A QDOS review has to be undertaken every 6 months to provide compliance. If the result is “inside IR35” then the contractor can choose to work with an umbrella from Lorien’s preferred list. I think ReAssure have done an excellent job!

Blanket Ban - no assessments made! Vodafone have confirmed that from 6 April 2021 they will no longer engage with individuals providing their services via Personal or LTD companies.

Blanket Ban on all PSC / LTD Co Contractors - NO assessments made ! Due to the reform, Vodafone have confirmed that from 6 April 2021 they will no longer engage with individuals providing their services via Personal Services Companies; Vodafone will only engage with PAYE or Umbrella workers. Very difficult decision to be made by any interim headcount, given the current contract market & impact of covid within the professional services arena.......

PSCs will no longer be used from Jan '21. Blanket ban of contractors where a generic assessment was provide to all. Current contractors will have to engage via agency's PAYE scheme or use an umbrella company on its preferred supplier list.

Classic contract, no real hassles other than Lorien contracts notated to Hays from 3rd October 2020. COVID-secure remote working. Can’t complain. No idea what might happen from April 2021 though.

Complete U turn by Vodafone who originally stated that the policy change was nothing to do with IR35. However, they are now insisting on new contracts being capped at £600pd to Lorien, and all contractors must report through them. Complete state of turmoil.

All contractors were placed with IR35 by the end of February. Communication has just come from Lorien stating they are deferring. “This will apply until Vodafone work towards the changes required for the future legislative change planned for April 2021.” “Therefore if you wish to change your engagement from PAYE contract to PSC please email us at..”

Apparently it's for our own good. GSK believe engaging agency workers through PAYE contracts is the right approach for them as a business, and for the people that working with them, especially in the current circumstances.

Received the notification from Lorien that RBS will plough ahead with the blanket ban on PSCs. What a joke. Forced into Umbrella as market is so dire and need to feed my family and pay the mortgage meant I had no choice. Even though I am 'Outside'. I will be leaving at the earliest opportunity and would never work with RBS Group /NatWest again. Don't believe anything RBS pledge to do for retail/business customers during this time of crisis as they will undoubtedly let you down. No assessments, no clue.

Awful decision by RBS - shirking their responsibilities and are (hypocritically) not 'doing the right thing'. They're saving a small fortune and the agencies and umbrella companies are creaming off the top. No SDS, atmosphere among those that took umbrella is poor (good luck getting anyone to do overtime or weekend work). Projects will be impacted as some contractors are leaving..

So with the BIG announcement last night - it's business as usual for GSK. Lorien told me this decision was GSKs and nothing changes - PSC Bans remain. GSK will lose more than 50% of it's contractor workforce very soon. Sell your shares people!!!

Fair individual assessments provided Questionnaire completed with line manager broadly based on CEST but with business specific question too I have been given an SDS Other people have been found inside and people are leaving

RBS (natwest) have not made any effort to put themselves in a position to offer outside IR35 engagements. Lots of people have taken umbrella option with no extra day rate with london contractors still being given place of work as edinburgh so will be paying all expenses for any trips to edinburgh without this being paid for by limited company. i left on 28th feb and it was all a bit weird. they have increased pay bands for permanent roles but not offering as much as other banks.

Blanket ban on PSC from 20th March. No SDS, some contractors leaving, others on short terms (i.e the ones that should have been outside IR35 anyway) getting an increased rate to compensate. Replacements for leavers are proving difficult to source apparently.

Some contractors have already left and few more are leaving at the end of the month

Some Contractors have already left and few more are going to leave at the end of the month

Company is becoming a shambles. Decisions being taken at high levels without thought for how it impacts people or getting work completed. Managers Ill informed or have no comprehension of the impact. Risks raised people leaving 3rd parties will be picking up the work at additional cost!

Confirmed today that all contractors are to be treated as inside IR35. Completely flawed as I 100% know that my circumstances, risks etc. put me well and truly outside IR35. There has been no sign of reasonable care being taken in their assessment.

Outside ir35 contracts - treated and worded as proper SOW contracts.

New contract/assignment received going through umbrella company. New assignment allows the client (RBS) to terminate the contract with no notice period and allows me no notice period at all. I must complete full term of the contract.

I would say 30/40% are leaving. The rest are accepting incide ir35 because no more options in the market. Its just crazy

Blanket ban of PSCs and asking contractors to go PAYE at end of February instead of end of financial year messes up income and tax planning for most contractors. It surely implies or indicates to HMRC a move from outside to inside IR35 and thus opens up contractors to potential investigation and retrospective tax assessment.

Due to the general shitty attitude, this is the calm before the storm as people are going to walk. Don't take it personal though when we do, business is business, you understand right?

Communication very poor still no SDS despite being told we will get it end of Jan then end of first week in Feb and then again end of business on the 14th. Expectation is that all will be inside with a blanket ban approach with a pointless flawed CEST SDS handed out at the last minute.

Contractors beginning asked to pay £89 for an assessment done by Qdos

6 month renewals given outside IR35 after QDOS assessments. We had to pay for them but that's a small price

Umbrella (Lorien is one of the accepted ones) or Leave (28th February). Permanent is rarely offered and impossible to approve/process in time by the deadline anyway. Lots of inside_IR35 extensions being offered to currently outside_IR35 contractors with no warnings of the risk. Same rate offered inside as currently paid outside. No flexibility.

Allvotec have blanketed all contractors and refuse to engage with anyone regarding the decision.

New client for me Assessed outside ir35, using CEST.

RBS have said no psc and no increase in day rate to compensate. I feel they may suffer a huge loss of staff.

No individual assessment. Projects will be impacted. Managers saying well all big companies are doing the same so you have no options, Well... A GSK competitor has today given their contractors their assessment, completed individually, and contractors are being classified outside IR35.

Me & manager were asked set of questions & we entered them honestly and made sure my freelance work reflects the answers. Despite all efforts I was deemed inside IR35 & recruitment agency is quite keen to push me under their choice of Umbrella.

Communicated since October, no other possibility than Umbrella or leave

Qdos Assessment

Poor communications from GSK and Lorien. Questions to Lorien not answered, GSK management told not to discuss all comms through the agency. Agency forces you through an umbrella by taking 20% off your rate if you want to continue as a PSC through them and then you have to pay your own tax and NI, etc.

Individual role assessments being undertaken, via QDOS Questionnaire.

We are being forced to pay taxes like an employee plus employers NI (extra tax that employees dont have to pay) and all this with no benefits!

Complete shambles, lack of communication or respect for people’s livelihood

Will only use Umbrellas, but when we chose our own they said no, you can only use Paystream, and Nasa, whoever they are? I want to challenge this but am told any change to my contract because I want the freedom to choose, will cost me £200. This is an Agency further extorting a bad situation, it's shameful and many contractors are very angry. Hearsay only but it's because the those Umbrella companies are giving Lorien a large back hander again why are we punished for this madness? I'm now only taking home just over 50% of my income.

Assessments carried out by QDOS

No assessments, blanket approach taken. Those who choose to remain via PAYE/Umbrella risk historic investigation by HMRC and will cease employing accountants, using insurance companies, paying for other professional services etc. Difficult choices ahead for many and I'm not sure that there are any winners either way.

This is an awe ful situation where HMRC, umbrellas / Consulting companies will only make the money. One can not continue with current client else you are inviting an investigation. Moving out of England as it’s going to be mess with Brexit and IR35, talent will also exit

I am leaving along with at least 50 others I have spoken to. GSK are really going to struggle as the contractors were their backbone!

Vodafone has decided to ban all limited company contractors from 28 Feb.

Completed online qdos questionnaire

Engaged Qdos for audit and assessments

As per above

New contract, states the worker has to give 30days notice. Client (GSK) only gives 1 week! (Forgot to mention that in my last feedback)

I have IR35 insurance. My current and previous contracts have been checked for being outside IR35. The insurance company are now suggesting it would help to get the client confirm previous contracts were outside IR35. they never had to before. Not happy to take the hit on employer’s NIC, extra fees, more tax and no proper benefits. We will be out of pocket more than an employee. I feel I have to leave my current contract to avoid HMRC investigating me being outside of IR35 on a Friday then doing same role Monday under a blanket decision as PAYE.

Contracts extended to 20th March. Finish by 28th Feb or risk payment for March after 6th April and thus automatically inside. Inform GSK / Agent by end of Jan for choice going forward. 7 days notice so expect many to say they will continue under umbrella but bail out last minute.

Blanket assessment - no options provided apart from accept or leave