Contributing to client's internal blog

[Presto]

I know this is a bit random, but my new client has an internal team blog that they publish once a week. The general idea is that all the staff write a few bullet points about what they've been up to, so everyone else in the company knows what they've been working on.

First I heard of it today is when one of the staff approached me and politely asked if I could email him a few sentences about what I'd got up to in my first week.

I did it as I thought it was a good way to let others in the company who the random bloke sat in the corner was (I need to work with a lot of them ad hoc in this project).

But come next week... is it a good idea to do it again with a "I did x, y and z"?

I know it sounds daft but will it make me look like a member of staff and hence muddy me into the IR35 water??

[WYSIWYG]

Originally Posted by Presto

I know this is a bit random, but my new client has an internal team blog that they publish once a week. The general idea is that all the staff write a few bullet points about what they've been up to, so everyone else in the company knows what they've been working on.

First I heard of it today is when one of the staff approached me and politely asked if I could email him a few sentences about what I'd got up to in my first week.

I did it as I thought it was a good way to let others in the company who the random bloke sat in the corner was (I need to work with a lot of them ad hoc in this project).

But come next week... is it a good idea to do it again with a "I did x, y and z"?

I know it sounds daft but will it make me look like a member of staff and hence muddy me into the IR35 water??

I think folks can get a bit too hung up on IR35. What the heck, why shouldn't you get involved in the blog? It'll break down some of the 'professional barriers' which can sometime get in the way of you completing the project / task in hand. Direct employees can be very obstructive when they want to be.

Iain

[Seb Maley]

I don't think this would cause a major problem in itself, but it could be something that the Revenue pick up on and use to argue that you are 'part and parcel'. Perhaps just ensure your blog submissions make it clear that you are a contractor and not an employee.

[TheFear]

On the same subject, I started a new gig on Monday and my photo ID security badge arrived on my desk this morning.

Whilst I don't in principle have a problem wearing the thing (apparently it's company policy to hang it around your neck), it has a bright red 'C' next to my name.

Some people tell me it stands for 'Contractor' but i'm not so sure. Does anyone else known what it might mean?

[Presto]

Thanks all. I know it a silly thing to get worked up about, but you hear about the revenue getting funny about the smallest thing. I've just been sending short "project updates" so everyone there know what the random guy in the corner is up to. Emphasis on "project".

[Seb Maley]

Well it's definitely better to err on the side of caution. A lot of inspectors are ridiculously anal, but if you've got an expert dealing with your case it shouldn't cause a major problem in the whole scheme of things.

[curleyted]

Originally Posted by TheFear

On the same subject, I started a new gig on Monday and my photo ID security badge arrived on my desk this morning.

Whilst I don't in principle have a problem wearing the thing (apparently it's company policy to hang it around your neck), it has a bright red 'C' next to my name.

Some people tell me it stands for 'Contractor' but i'm not so sure. Does anyone else known what it might mean?

Just wait until you tell them you can't join in the tea round for tax reasons.....

[WYSIWYG]

The sooner the OTS sorts out IR35 the better! This conversation is precisely why it needs to be looked at. I hear what Seb's saying about a cautious approach but come on, do you really think you'd fall foul of IR35 for something like this?

Iain