Orion

Deeply flawed process in 2020 with appeals ignored. In 2021 Shell UK decided to work only with agency PAYE “contingent workers”. Employers NI, pension contributions and holiday accruals deducted from previous Ltd Co. Rates. The good and real contractors are gone or are going - leaving the monkeys to collect the peanuts.

Email dated 02 Feb 21 received from BP Global Business Solutions gives agencies just 3 days to confirm to BP the contractor’s intention of converting to PAYE.

After government U-turn still being asked to sign PAYE contract.

Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) have been contracted by Shell UK Ltd. to carry out the tests on contractors to see if they have been infected with the IR35 virus. IR35 seems to be spreading rapidly and an epidemic is likely. The test consists of Shell Management washing their hands thoroughly of the entire mess and PWC marking you as infected with IR35 if they can spell your name. Please adhere to the following advice:- If a contractor suspects they may have an IR35 infection then they must self-isolate (work from home) from April 1st ad-infinitum. If a contractor thinks they have not been infected with IR35 they may challenge PWC/Shell but please be advised you will be faced will a wall of toilet roll the size of the Himalayas followed by compulsory drowning in a vat of hand sanitiser. Note that for all contractors infected with IR35 Shell are legally obliged to contribute vast amounts of NI (Not Interested) which is likely to be reflected in the work ethic of those remaining.

Badly handled, left until last minute.They couldn't be bothered.

Middle management are towing the company line ticking the same boxes on pre loaded questions to blanket determine everybody inside. Leadership team couldn’t care less. Avoid.

Flawed blanket assessment carried out by PWC on all contract staff on a project basis only, with the same outcome for everyone. No individual basis and no consultation with a single contractor. Total contradiction of contract terms. An apprentice lawyer could laugh this out court. Typical Shell attitude showing a total disregard to their contract workforce. Worse company I have ever worked for

Assessments are demonstrably flawed/incompetent. The appeals process will complete after the April deadline. Cost neutral so no compensation. Cynical behavior by Shell demonstrating a clear lack of respect for the Aberdeen professional engineering community. This will not be forgotten.

What a joke. The assessments by PWC are inaccurate and full or errors or untruths. Seems to have been written by a graduate and unchecked by anyone with any understanding or experience. PWCs assessment is also in direct contradiction to the T&Cs in Orion contract. Orion forwarded assessment without even realising this breach of contract. Clueless?

Flawed and inaccurate assessment process, which was identical for everyone, even those already working on PAYE basis! Multiple appeals have been launched which we’re sure PWC will not be able to handle as they could not even get the basic facts correct. Response to appeals likely to be a whitewash. Serious questions raised about their honesty and integrity.

All contractors PAYE only, same SDS results for everyone despite claims of no blanket. Qdos fired and PWC used instead.

Received email from Orion today, everyone determined as inside IR35. In my opinion it’s too risky to stay on so I will be leaving to work elsewhere at earliest opportunity.

Total shambles. Shell have clearly given PWC a mandate to determine all contractors as inside IR35. Issue of the SDS has been continually delayed and we are again told they'll be issued this week. We've all been told what to expect (all inside). Atmosphere is terrible and it looks like many will move on to avoid an outside/inside continuity. Even if you did stay, Shell are taking a "cost neutral" stance so are happy to deem you as inside Ir35 but also want you to pay their Employer NI contributions. What a joke.

The view of a manager: Assessment conducted late last year. I informed my contractor that I was due to conduct the assessment, and informed her after I had done it. She confirmed it wouldn't impact her as she wasn't on a PSC... she had seen this coming when she joined earlier in Q1 2019 and put herself on PAYE. I did not want to hide anything so kept communicating... and it seemed to work better.

None

PAYE only