Resource Solutions

I have still not been paid for January and it doesn’t look like Brookson will recover their services anytime soon. The latest news is that in addition to this being a ransomware attack, some contractor personal information may have been exfiltrated and released onto the Internet. The longer this situation continues the more at risk Brookson are of becoming insolvent and the higher the risk of contractors losing their withheld pay. In my experience, most companies facing such a devastating cyber-attack and then unable to recover will sooner or later be overcome by the reputational damage. My advice is to leave Brookson now!

I have seen an internal email from the “Risk” team telling all hiring managers that the firm wants contractors to be Supervised, Directed and Controlled. The email then goes on to say, therefore, everyone is inside IR35. I have also seen the “questionnaire” hiring managers were asked to fill, a very poor misleading version of CEST tool. And based on above point you are automatically have SDC applied. Hey presto you are inside IR I heard they will use Linklaters as a 2nd or final opinion. But this is all a farce as in the background the hiring managers are told the firm doesn’t want to take the risk of outside IR35 contracts. I was given a very weak determination, I had a great appeal, but when I spoke to the IR35 review team they said 0.01% of contractors are outside. KPMG are pretending to be fair, but in moving the goalposts to suit them.

Contract staff blanket assessment followed by FTC employment. Now sone specific contract roles being hired but none past the new deadline.

Blanket ban on PSC. All contractors have taken a standard 25-25% reduction in day rate and given no option but to consider agency based PAYE. Day rates are further reduced to accommodate employer NI, optional pension and holidays. No assessment tool was used, no SDS were provided. It's take it or leave in Covid times. HR IR35 sessions were monotone which lacks fairness. Company has not invested time to fairly assess contractor. Few contractors left as terms were one-sided.

Appalling collusion between Nomura and Resource Solutions. Contractor now pays Employers NI with a forced pay cut.

I got offered a contract role back in July 2020 after a very positive phone interview that I turned down after investigating their so-called 'preferred' Umbrella companies. The criminal nature of these companies was so off putting, specifically the complete lack of clarity in the contract in not specifying salary or rate or other terms was dodgy as hell, and it put me off ever contemplating going Inside IR35. This was despite the IR35 legislation not having changed and being pushed back to this coming April 2021. I pushed back and asked why not LTD company contractor engagement, but they were firm in their position, despite IR35 status determination remaining with me. LandGs loss, not mine.

'Assessments' were made but I have heard of no one who is deemed outside irrespective of the work and days a month worked, one person I heard of is a day a month and is still deemed inside. Comments from KPMG were, we give you a laptop to work and rigorously vet you therefore you are inside IR35 scope. Resource solutions are poorly communicating and pushing hard their PAYE solution- with the deductions for holiday taken and if not use they keep. I know of someone who had that very experience last year when asked to work over Christmas break at the last minute, then told the accrued holiday for 2020 was lost!

Using Grant Thornton tool, though some answers are mandatory and reflect bias from RS or HMRC. This year therefore the bar, and thus evidence needed is higher and less will be found outside. One of the few companies bucking the RS advised psc ban.

Deutsche Bank confirm there is a blanket ban on contractors as of March, and that word from the top is to not engage any former PSCs directly as vendors for fixed price SOW contracts either. Further there has been a reduction in all contractor rates as of January 18. While this was claimed to be the result of a "survey of market rates" it has been confirmed off the record that this is actually because agency Resource Solutions is moving to a new timesheet system which charges RS a higher commission - that increased fee is being passed on to contractors. The new timesheet system by a huge coincidence is when the reduced rate takes effect.

Ban on the use of Limited Companies - option of PAYE or Umbrella through Resource Solutions but no assessment provided of IR35 position and no option of working outside of IR35 regardless of working practices.

When the original assessments were being considered I was advised that they would assess each situation on its merits. However, my understanding now is that virtually every role is now PAYE only with a very select few that are being considered outside PAYE. My role is now deemed inside IR35. Due to the current market many contractors like myself are having to accept the status quo. I understand that as auditors and working in a heavy regulated market, KPMG is choosing the position of least risk. However, what would make sense would be for KPMG to adjust the day rates. An average contractor rate is loaded with all the elements of risk that a contractor has to be absorb (sickness, pension, training, holiday, unforeseen absence, bench time) yet the rates KPMG is offering is on par with a permanent salary which comes with it all these other benefits on top of the salary. Therefore contractors are financially worse off than a permanent member of staff. However, the madness is that KPMG still wishes to retain the flexibility of a contractor workforce. It is the individual contractors that are now absorbing these risks - not government, nor KPMG.

They've had a year to address this but it's obvious they have taken the path of least resistance again and implemented a full PSC ban. Feeling annoyed that they invested no effort in alternative solutions but more annoyed with HMRC/current government for their continued anti-business stance. Also there is a 45 week max tenure for some reason meaning we'll all be off-boarded next christmas. Nearly every contractor I know is waiting for 'outside ir35 only' contracts and then will jump ship. No love lost here.....

Back to the PSC ban before April arrives. PAYE only contracts. Will only hire for a 12 month period to prevent employees receiving any workers rights, nice to see this bank is in favor of Zero rights employment. Very unlikely to be hiring perm due to the current climate. I'll be looking to contract into Europe.

AXA UK is operating as normal, none of the contractors are forced inside IR35 as of yet.

KPMG UK offered outside ir35 contracts but I believe this is only till end of March’21

Poor blanket assessments by managers who don’t understand the legalities of being a contractor (risk vs reward) Management not willing to support appeals, response is you can leave or tKe an FTC regardless of instability and extra pressure it would cause. Once a great organisation but going downhill fast since demerger. Cut throat approach and work staff to the bone!

I have been forced to contract under PAYE terms. However I am hearing rumours that some individuals are still working via a limited company since IR35 rules have been deferred. I have asked RS whether there are any contractors working through limited company but they don’t provide a clear cut answer. It seems really unfair. Can anyone confirm if they are at HSBC and working via a limited company as at April/May 2020

They terminated my contract early, no explanation given. Most contractors feel betrayed.

They seem to let some people work via their ltd but not others as they recently sent mail highlighting the 2 different categories of people...

No u turn, rate still decreased by 14% to absorb employer NIC and they don’t want to bulge even 1% on this using international events as a justification to pass NIC on. Very hypocritical when tou hear them communicating about ‘values’ every now and then... Will leave asap.

it defies logic that RBS has refused to follow government directive to delay the implementation of Off Payroll rules till April2021. Its shocking that the Bank does not care about contractors would adjust to a new pay structure that substantially reduce the income in the current economic climate of corona virus. What commercial or moral sense does this make to the Bank?

RBS have no respect for contractors. They have refused to follow the government’s guidance on IR35 and proceeded with PAYEE and Umbrella companies months before it was allowed.

Blanket ban cancelled. Business as usual.

Waited all week but heard that KPMG will defer ir35 determinations and leave it to the individual contractors.

No deferral, proceeding with inside IR35. Small number been offered permanent but everyone else PAYE from 30th March 2020. Resources being replaced by offshore if someone leaves.

PSC ban. Confirms what most of us thought all along - that the individual assessments were a complete sham (as was the appeals process when presented with incorrect information in the SDS). Can't wait until the market picks-up - then we'll see how they manage!

Ban on PSC regardless of role. Not willing to assess. SDS by role rather than job, contains incorrect answers.

"The Government recently announced that it will defer the implementation of changes to IR35 to 6 April 2021. Schroders has decided that given the considerable work to assess roles and issue new contracts that has already been done, we will proceed with our current 6 April 2020 timeline. In addition, we have decided that from 6 April 2020, we will engage with contractors only through Resource Solutions or an appropriate agency on a PAYE or approved umbrella company basis. For the avoidance of doubt, this means we will not engage with contractors operating through Personal Service Companies, either directly or indirectly."

Unprofessional organization with a blanket ban on PSCs. Their assessments were ridiculous: pushed down to managers to make decisions and they were forced to take the decision from their seniors to not have PSC outside IR35. No considerations for deferring their decision. Blanket approach once again.

Advised yesterday that there would no u-turn despite the deferral of the IR35 changes. Have not been advised what this means for new hires. Blanket ban with no assessment and zero-cost policy. No detail on the calculation of the new rates offered. Rate has dropped 30%.

Breaking news 5pm Weds 18th March DB are reverting to PSC / Limited Company contracts, with DB & affected (staying) contractors having to draw up & sign new contracts from April 1st.

No assessment tools were used. A blank ban was imposed with PAYE contracting only through their MSPs (Reed or Resource Solutions). There is no option to go through an umbrella company. No SDS/individual assessments were offered/given. Projects are badly impacted and may contractors have already left. A few like myself have joined on a PAYE contract but in the absence of better opportunities in this space have opted to stay for now.

I originally posted that KPMG were taking a view on each case. However, it would appear that due to the vetting processes required at KPMG most PSCs will fail on the IR35 "right to substitute" clause which means PSCs become inside of IR35.

Contractors leaving Role based ‘assessment’ No evidence provided Not consulted

Ridiculous PAYE contract - essentially a zero hours contract, that forces you to give up all control, all claim on employment rights, mandates 30 days of unpaid leave (disguised through the split in day rates) and accept any and all related risks from the agency (RS) and the client (DB) - I think its unsignable.

Contract terminated early, no explanation. Lots of negative feeling about behaviour of Lloyd's.

You have to love the PAYE contract issued. Which if HMRC read they'd probably argue that doesn't sound like an employee! Contributed holiday, whoopee frickin' do!

Blanket ban 30th March termination. No discussion or negotiations- PAYE through agent or nothing.

PAYE only with 30% rate cut, despite the fact they are saving 20% VAT. Left them to it.

Blanket LTD Co ban. No assessments carried out. PAYE only. Contractor pays Employer taxes.

No contractors. Only inside IR35

Chaos. No one really knows what will happen after March. Manager unhelpful and vacant. Good contractors leaving/have left already.

Blanket ban on limited companies. 5 more weeks left and then my colleagues and I are leaving. Real shame, what a mess HMRC has caused. Atmosphere is very dark.

All change end of March, PAYE only absolutely no PSCs. Resource Solutions is peddling no one has anything to fear from retro-tax by going inside of IR35, I hope they are right. I've found an alternative.

They put wrong info in CEST tool re risk, when challenged said working practice in future will change

31/03/2020 will be my last day contracting, loads of projects and work to be done but I am not accepting the new terms being offered. Gonna move organisation (need to break away from original company) and go permanent for 1 year and see how it goes.

Blanket decision made in line with Resource Solutions standard approach. No assessments made, no longer engaging Ltd company contractors. PAYE offers expected late Feb - unsure of terms. Expectation of significant contractor exits.

It is all over, selling my house, gonna pick a little perm role. My earning will be lot less but so will my tax. I paid £78000 in corporation, dividend and vat tax last year, next year as a perm I will pay £33000 based on a similar role. Good luck everyone

25% cut FTC. Most contractors I know said okay, but all are looking to leave within 2 months

Lies up until last minute and then sharp drop in rate to make it more difficult to leave. Most dishonest and corrupt HR department I have ever worked with. I have resigned and have benched myself. Working with others to go to court on this later in the year

All contractors moved to PAYE with the client shifting their NI, Pensions liabilities with a 25% reduced rate. New contract received late on 31st Jan with no documentation on Pensions, Holidays details provided.

Blanket policy instated despite independent reviews by QDOS. Ridiculous to say the least

Blanket ‘no more contractors approach’. Any one who wants to stay being pushed to PAYE umberella. No individual assessment, many contractors leaving. Disappointing after several years supporting different projects at HSBC.

No assessment tool with individuals. Nearly all contractors leaving. FTC roles only. Greater use of the big consultancies.

This is very bad and hard situation. Really worries how to look after family

Unsympathetic & unquantified Risk adverse approach to PSC blanket ban

Received an email saying due to HMRC clarifications PSC's can continue working under current arrangements until 3 April 2020. Discussions with a Partner I know said, KPMG are following instructions from "end clients". If a Bank has said no PSC's in the supply chain we have to follow.

After 9 months of deliberation and careful planning, DB has decided to just lump everyone under the same bus. No individual assessment. No determination based on whether you do the same role as a permanent employee. Contractor pays everything by being PAYE at Resource Solutions. NI, eNI, PAYE. Funds are deducted for 'holiday pay' and if you don't take the holidays, RS keeps the cash.

HSBC has taken a blanket indolent approach by refusing to asses the IR35 status of any contract role. Blanket rules require all contractors to be PAYE via agencies and this is even extended to third-party vendors. The bank has bypassed the legal implications of passing employers NI, pension costs and the apprenticeship levy by forcing a rate reduction of an equal sum with new PAYE contracts.

Basically hundreds of people out of work in 5 weeks time!

They clearly don’t want any more contractors although state they will individual assess. However no one outside IR35 so far!

No notice was given. Blanket dismissal of all contractors applied and the company used the IR35 as an excuse to reduce costs and remove experienced contractors favouring junior staff instead. They massively practise 'constructive dismissal' before by giving contractors very boring and menial work.

Enforced PSC ban. Kind email stating that you must accept the paye offer or you will be given notice. 45 week tenure offered for paye. The bank has more problems than contractors leaving such as trying to stay afloat so it is a definite goodbye & not aurevoir.

The timing was appalling but just as bad as other banks. The rollout of the changes have been done through calls that were not very useful and a HR portal that is better.

Moving all contractors to PAYE, no assessment, employees pay eers NI, limited information provided, not giving clear direction. Confusion is prevalent. Trying to put lipstick on the pig in v basic conf calls about the legislation. Ctrctors offboarded consistently for past 4 yrs. Consultancy use continues and has increased

CEST Tool used with incorrect answers providing an inside IR35 for 99%. Projects at risk. PSC contractors who are whole-heartedly Outside IR35 being forced into Umbrella. 'External Review' offered for contested decisions which is just an IR35 insurance company who will only look at lowest risk situations based on the recruitment agencies' CEST answers. COMPLETELY FLAWED AND UNFAIR.

I always enjoyed my time at Barclays but the communication regarding the PSC ban was terrible - I found out by a friend at HSBC.

No individual assesments. Blanket all contractors to PAYE. Gross fees cut for employers NI. New PAYE contracts with rate cuts distributed yesterday.

Reliance on Cest tool and info being entered incorrectly without asking contractors. Current contract deemed outside ir35 by independent reviews, axa and resource solutions have now decided it's inside. Projects in danger if contractors leave, awaiting decision on status review request.

45-week max tenure from Mar 30th, 38 days paid holiday in that period. No forced absence. It could be worse. For those moaning, there'll be plenty happy to accept it. Interesting times ahead in the freelance labour market.

28% reduction on day rate, PAYE from 01/02/20. All contractors post 28/02/20 viewed as “extra” to be worked out. Rumor of further rate later in year. Avoid for now.

Departed HSBC - going to take a year out

The new inside-IR35 contracts that are being sent out state that unless communicated explicitly: "The Temporary Worker is being offered an Assignment to perform services of the same nature as those which the Temporary Worker had previously been supplied within the previous five business days." By doing this they formalise explicitly that by signing the contract you are attesting that your previous assignment was within IR35. If you had previously thought that talk about the risk of "retrospective taxes" was manufactured grift this should force you to wake up. By signing such a contract you remove almost any chance of winning an IR35 investigation as HMRC will be able to use your own signature on this document as proof that you were inside IR35 before. If your client was offering to significantly increase your rate to soften the blow carefully read your contract since if it contains a line like this offers you up on a platter for an expensive HMRC tax investigation that you will not be able to win.

Blanket approach taken

CEST assessment is done based on perception of a role, what one’s contract says is ignored, even if you have the right to substitute

Offered a short extension to a key delivery project PAYE or umbrella only, all employer and employee tax to come out of existing day rate. Resource Delusions have put in a Q&A session with all contractors (except some engaged through certain small consultancies) next week with no agenda. Seems like a face-saving placation exercise "we are talking to the masses gov'nor honest".

Unofficial but same decision as other banks. Still no official communication and unethical practice by DB to not let the contractors know the decision. Very unfair.

All contractors given the boot, perm and FTC roles only.

Frustrated that companies are not investing the time to conduct proper assessments.

Resource Solutions -No guidance, no comms.... good bye!!

Approach has now been shared. No determination. All contractors will be offered new temp worker contracts on agency PAYE basis, to keep firm cost neutral. So choice of umbrella. No salary sacrifice. Admission that they expect market to react and rates increase but for now they will not increase unilaterally.

Approach has now been shared. No determination. All contractors will be offered new temp worker contracts on agency PAYE basis, to keep firm cost neutral. So choice of umbrella. No salary sacrifice. Admission that they expect market to react and rates increase but for now they will not increase unilaterally.

From 3rd Feb all new contingent workers will be PAYE only 30th March all existing contingent workers will move to PAYE with 45 week tenure restriction Official Communication w/c 27th Jan Notice will be given to those who do not sign new contracts on 16th March. Last day 27th March

Not only HSBC passes on the employers’ NIC to the PAYE temp employee but also the high payroll admin fee from Resource Solutions - They clearly took IR35 as an opportunity to cut cost.

The three options provided are 1) Permanent employment - if one exists 2) Fixed Term Contract 3) Umbrella

Sad to see TSB taking a blanket route like other major banks.

Only offering FTC & Perm roles.

Most contractors managed out due to cost reduction and uncertainty. Barclays using opportunity to reduce costs. Those retained offered PAYE with effective rate cut,

Day reduced down to 25% because HSBC wants to make the transition to PAYE cost neutral. The change was poorly organised and communicated giving only 2 weeks notice for me to decide. Definitely playing hard ball on this!

Contractors will be phased out as they already have Deloitte and Cognizant consultancies on-site, backfilling roles via them, offshoring where possible. What they are currently failing to recognise is the quality of these resources. Cog are cheap and generally poorly skilled. Deloitte are very expensive and generally poorly skilled. The best of both worlds ??

Too many people are leaving and moral is down.

Individual Assessments being done, but very conservatively (and contracts will be changing to have no substitution from April) so most will be Inside/Umbrella. A few are being offered FTE roles.

Schroders uses CEST - everyone inside IR35.

Resource Solutions can't even advise what the taxable pay structure is despite having issued contracts. They hold contractors in utter contempt and don't treat people like human beings. Contracts were terminated on 31 December, with some people having been missed off all prior communications. HSBC are not holding anyone to account and just don't seem to care at all.

Blanket ban. Claimed to have run through CEST tool but it was for a different role to mine and the answers did not match my working practices.

Renewal based on CEST outcome thats Inside

All those working through Ltd will have to move to an Umbrella company or PAYE from 16 March. If you choose the PAYE route, they will take 15% off your day rate for the employers NI. Only selected umbrellas allowed. Communication good. But no word about extensions post March or possible rate uplift.

All those working through Ltd will have to move to an Umbrella company or PAYE from 16 March. If you choose the PAYE route, they will take 15% off your day rate for the employers NI. Only selected umbrellas allowed. Communication good. But no word about extensions post March or possible rate uplift.

Strategic reviews taking place with offers for employment if available. Contractors will be used but will require CEST to determine status. And then options for engagement to be discussed. Not full communicated to all parties yet but looks reasonable in the current market

Currently going through assessments. Approach not tested yet

Little understanding of IR35 in practice, CEST used to determine the IR35 designation in blanket groupings without individual assessment of PSC or Individual working practices. Just about all contractors are currently outside IR35 so difficult to see that any can be confident in staying if deemed inside shortly

REED are deceasing contractors rates by 23% and Resource Solutions by 25% before they apply PAYE. There is also a rumour of an overall rate cap .

All contractors are being given new contracts which put them on PAYE. They don't tell you upfront what rate they would give you, instead expecting you to just sign with your eyes closed. And this new contract appears to start at the beginning of March, effectively terminating any contracts that were until the end of March. Resource Solutions are really disconnected from the market. They do completely crazy things like trying to negotiate a £50 lower rate, when you've already had a higher offer. I think it's worth making it known that you will be quitting and watching them bleed out in March/April.

Received a bland email from IR35 team last night, with choice to go PAYE/Umbrella by 28/2 or contract ceases. New contracts would be in force from 01/03 apparently, but how do you decide what to do when you haven't seen any terms?

DB has made a big push to update all contracts to ensure they are all outside IR35. However there has been no official communications about how they will deal with this from April onwards. The sheer number of contracts on site would mean a lot of projects would need to be mothballed if they decided to go PAYE. I don’t think this is an option with the regulatory scrutiny that is present from around the globe

They have yet to issue any determination. Determined to wait until the last minute to see what rest of market is doing. Expect worse fast decision.

Blanket inside IR35 assessments, or PAYE/brolly only. Inside IR35 only, PAYE/umbrella only, or bans on PSCs

Using "Grant Thornton" assessment tool. Assessing current contracts with a view to them having no right of sub after April. I'm currently only one out of whole dept assessed as outside (but yet to find out if RS can handle that).

Blanket no PSC's being set by the recruiting agents.

At the moment KPMG seems to be taking a mature approach to the situation, particularly since they have close links to HMRC. The roles that are in jeopardy are where contractors are, to all intents & purposes, working like a permie - ie IT. In my area contractors are used to help fill resourcing gaps not filled by permanent resources or people with specialist skills and therefore KPMG seems to be offering these roles on-going. I can understand where HMRC are targeting roles that are being resourced by contractors in a bid to avoid headcount overheads/costs. If KPMG contractors work in client-facing parts of the business where the resourcing needs are client/demand-driven it would appear there is less likelihood of these roles disappearing. In these areas contractor roles are being used as they were originally intended, for the purposes intended. It's people who are essentially doing the same role in the same part of the business in the same location that are most likely under threat. I've been happy with the way KPMG and Resource Solutions have handled it so far.

CEST used, wrong answers provided by resource solution, all inside IR35, now PAYE via resource solution or umbrella