Randstad

In 2020 Uniper approached this generically with an Inside result. An appeal was made but unfortunately never concluded due to IR35 implementation being postponed to 2021. This time around Uniper engaged with me early and asked the right questions to allow we to demonstrate my way of working was clearly Outside and they agreed with it. Well done Uniper!

Feel blessed to have worked with this customer throughout the Pandemic. They have kept me and my family as safe as possible by allowing me the flexibility to manage my work and personal commitments as smoothly as possible.

In 2020 Uniper approached this generically with an Inside result. An appeal was made but unfortunately never concluded due to IR35 implementation being postponed to 2021. This time around Uniper engaged with me early and asked the right questions to allow we to demonstrate my way of working was clearly Outside and they agreed with it. Well done Uniper!

Contractors had mainly switched to umbrella, ready for April 6. A number of contractors have already left because of the changes and Commerzbank's stance. Commerzbank/Randstad have now offered the option to remain as / switch back to limited company contractors but their view on the SDS and the working practices remain unchanged.

The way I was treated just before Covid-19 started was awful. We were demonised and painted as tax-avoiders. This in spite of us contractors all paying correct taxes and rightly setting up a Ltd Co. as stipulated by Randstad; with all the loss of work Rights, risks. I would never go near this company (O2 Telefonica) again for any contract or perm role.

Defeating PSC ban until April 2021. If you were leaving contract availability based on department budget.

Allowing PSCs to continue until April 2021.

Skanska engaged Qdos, forcing contractors into paying a fee for the assessment. Only for Skanska to change the assessments of all contractors All contractors have been deemed inside IR35 due to the answers provided by Skanska. Ultimately this has led to a blanket approach of inside IR35.

I've been placed outside of IR35 thanks to an SDS demonstrating reasonable care. Most people on my project are remaining with the Costain thanks to the OUTSIDE determinations. The whole atmosphere is good. A number of my friends are asking me if there any jobs going here.

EY provided assessment tool. Some contractors leaving, I will be joining them.

This is a final decision and was told it was not solely down to IR35 but if this was the case, not sure why is was left so long before telling us and also why is was handled so badly

Same as the other comments. Very badly handled and very little information provided very late. Some people haven't even got their new Umbrella contracts yet and it's almost end of day on the last day on their existing PSC contracts. Glad I decided to leave and not take the stress.

Poor use of cest tool which make almost everyone inside ir35. Entirely project based work with the majority from home and still just kowtowing to the tool that's been proven to be not fit for purpose in every court case so far.

Totally unfair blanket decision, contractors are actually being penalised for taking additional risk and uncertainty that comes with contracting and banks have nothing to lose - as all additional tax is going out of small time contractors’ pocket !!! Absolutely unfair.

Deemed inside even though the arguments provided are not based on my circumstances only on roles of a similar nature. Will not be staying.

Looks like most if not all have been deemed inside which goes against the advice of others. Siemens appear to be taking a default inside approach. You can pay an external company over one hundred pounds to review but this decision may still be overulled. Going forward if you were to be deemed outside then you have to pay the review fee every 6 months. Basically Siemens doesn't want contractors anymore. Nevemind, we move on.

Blanket assessments of inside statements. Apparently will now be carrying out individual assessments for those that dissent and are critical, prompted by mass notice submittal by key contractors, posing potential for non delivery of projects.

No assessment forced to go PAYE or not take positions within the works

All now inside

Everyone now inside..special contractors trying to be excluded

Been told it’s not just ir35 For their reasoning and we must make a choice or be terminated, no individual assessments done I have used crest and had my accountant investigate my original contact at my cost and they assured me I was outside but aparently Telefonica really don’t care

Terrible communication. Heavy-handed, lazy blanket decision. Basically they do not want contractors anymore. Time to leave!

Lazy blanket assessment that all contractors are inside IR35. If you decide to stay and your working arrangements are actually outside IR35, consider taking them to tribunal and make them pay back the PAYE.

Usual incompetence from Randstad. Be very careful before accepting a PAYE arrangement - you may be inviting a tax investigation.

Very shabbily handled. We still don't know the rates for umbrella/PAYE yet if we don't sign up by 5th Feb it is assumed we are leaving

Avoid .... whole situation has been handled terribly by both O2 and Randstad.

It's not been thought through properly and we've been given 5 days to make a decision to stay or leave! Outrageous

Had Conf call with Randstad and Tef HR total waste of time no questions answered the only option they did say is take it or leave it, just shows what the management are like in Telefonica/O2 they don’t care at all

Once we’ve been given a PAYE rate and an Umbrella rate we have 3 days to decide - ridiculous. Has been left to the last minute and feel backed into a corner. When asked whether Telefónica had risk-assessed their approach the response was “realistically where do contractors think they’re going to go?” Nice to feel wanted

Not handled the comms well.

Avoiding the issue by a blanket decision to no longer engage with PSCs and trying to dress up as a 'wider decision'. Arrogant and incompetently managed with many questions unanswered and expectation to conclude changes in a week

All to be assessed using CEST. Substitution clauses “only by exception”. Associate consultants kept in the dark by Randstad (PwC contacts told not to engage). Bye then.

Government issued IR35 tool was used. I have 20 years management consulting experience and am not prepared to work inside IR35 as I have multiple clients that I work for simultaneously. Therefore will end this particular contract in March

No information as yet on who is to pay employers NI and apprentice levy not good at all what to class you as perm but no benefits all in all crap to work for

Not happy with the decision, looking to move elsewhere or to change telecom sector completely.

IR35 rules are blanket applied. No individual assessment. Contractors are now paid worse then permanent staff as no benefits applicable to them. Also there is risk of losing job as well because most contractors are on 1 week notice. There is no pay rise for contractors either. No permanent jobs offered. Most of us including myself are looking job elsewhere or outside UK.

It is believed Siemens have engaged with Paystream to assess the UK contract workforce.

Contracts renewed to end of Feb 2020. Told blanket inside IR35 and the only real option they are looking at is umbrella co. They still don’t really have a clue and I feel they are very underprepared.

Blanket decision that all contractors are inside as of 1st March.

Dear Contractor, We wanted to make you aware of the changes Telefonica is making to their resourcing approach. From 1st March 2020 all new and existing contractors will follow a PAYE/Umbrella PAYE arrangement through Randstad Sourceright. Why has Telefonica made this decision? Our contingent workforce provides vital flexibility and important skills to our business, and will continue to do so as we move into 2020. However, with the new off-payroll legislation (commonly known as IR35) coming into effect in April 2020, we have undertaken a business wide review to ensure we are still working efficiently to deliver our strategy for the future. How does this affect you? From 1 March 2020 Telefonica will no longer be engaging with personal service companies (PSCs). Your contract is scheduled to end on or before 28th February.

Blanket contractor replacement with outsourcing to Indian Company as of end of March.

Confirmed decision to be announced mid Jan