Subscription fees for contract staff

Baby01032012

Just to get your opinion

I’m on an 18 month fixed term contract, contract is directly with the company and not through an agency.

I’m the only contractor, all employees are perm. All members of my team have their professional subs paid by the company. Even a person who just joined and is on probation. Membership is a requirement of the job. It’s nearly €600 a year. However as I’m a contractor I have to pay myself. It’s a big amount to me to pay myself. I queried last year and they said they’d look into but I never got response. There is no mention in contract.

I get other benefits such as health insurance and travel. Do I have any thing to argue that it should be paid by the company. I’m there over a year now and feel at a disadvantage to colleagues because of this.

Dav010

What does your contract say about the subs?

DublinDilbert

Surely you should be on a higher day rate than the employees and this should cover your fees.

Phileas Frog

Are you an FTC or a proper contractor - i.e. who pays you?

Baby01032012

Contract is mute on subs.

I probably am on a higher salary so i guess that’s probably the argument.

I’m on an FTC directly with the company, no agent involved. Company pays me through their normal payroll.

EagererBeaver

You get paid what's agreed to in the contract.

I'd never dream of paying the professional membership or accreditation fees of somebody who wasn't an employee. Very surprised you get your health insurance.

Dr Sunshine

OP is an employee. Protection of Fixed Term Workers Act would entitle him to same benefits as permanent employee.

dubrov

Are you a fixed term or day rate contractor?

Dav010

Dr Sunshine wrote: »

OP is an employee. Protection of Fixed Term Workers Act would entitle him to same benefits as permanent employee.

Employees on fixed-term contracts have broadly similar rights to those on open-ended contracts, eg in relation to leave etc. But when it comes to pay and benefits, the FTC could have more than a permanent employee, he/she just can’t have less than the statutory minimum. An example of this would be a colleague of the op might have 25 days annual leave in his/her contract, but the employer is only required to give 20 to the op.

FTC are entitled to the same benefits/contributions in relation to pensions as those on CID.

Baby01032012

Thanks for the replies. I’m on an annual salary not a per hour or day rate. I get annual leave on same basis as other employees. Only difference is that I don’t get a pension.

Dav010

Baby01032012 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I’m on an annual salary not a per hour or day rate. I get annual leave on same basis as other employees. Only difference is that I don’t get a pension.

It’s the pension, not the sub you should be looking into.

https://www.pensionsauthority.ie/en/LifeCycle/Joining_a_plan/Fixed_term_contract_work/

Seve OB

you might be able to get tax relief on the subs you are paying

Seve OB

Dav010 wrote: »

It’s the pension, not the sub you should be looking into.

https://www.pensionsauthority.ie/en/LifeCycle/Joining_a_plan/Fixed_term_contract_work/

they can give him access to the pension, doesn't mean they have to pay into it