Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Day rate for groundie?


PSP
 Share

Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, Donnie said:

 

Psp. I’ve a Scottish whatsapp group for forestry and tree surgeon malarky. 
 

I can send the link on pm. 
 

They post shifts there too

Ah yes Donnie please do send me the WhatsApp link, that would be great. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Log in or register to remove this advert

5 minutes ago, Brushcutter said:

Minimum wage is £11.44 an hour.which is £91.52 a day. So anybody turning up to work has to get that as a minimum. In short we all price ourselves too low. 

Only on the books does minimum wage apply, if a freelancer agrees to work for less that’s up to them. If people are pricing low that their lookout, it’s not a race to the bottom, anyone can say shove it to the paymaster.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, Brushcutter said:

Minimum wage is £11.44 an hour.which is £91.52 a day. So anybody turning up to work has to get that as a minimum. In short we all price ourselves too low. 

Definitely. Considering the risks involved in tree work I wouldn’t dream of showing up for anything less than minimum wage and that would be with zero tickets and zero experience. I think anyone agreeing to step foot on a site for £80 a day is selling themselves incredibly short - then again if they’re agreeing to that wage then perhaps the problems go deeper than simply selling one’s self short.

 

I think arboriculture wages are far behind the other trades. Considering it takes thousands of pounds in equipment and training to become qualified and the risks of injury involved in the work, you’d think employees would be paid fairly. Unfortunately there’s an industry-norm of underpaying people and keeping them as self employed contractors (i.e: disguised employees).

 

One of the firms I trialed with offered me full-time work as a “contractor” 5 days a week (but still wanted me to show up at specific times, stay until he said I could go, and call him “boss”). This unfortunately appears to be fairly standard for the industry, but is through all intents and purposes a predatory employment tactic that provides the company with full time staff, but exempts them from paying NI, sick pay, paid leave, and protects them from any liabilities should they get injured at work. I was insulted to be offered this. But it seems quite common!

 

Almost makes me think there’s a gap in the market in the arb industry for a company that treats employees fairly and legally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Brushcutter said:

Minimum wage is £11.44 an hour.which is £91.52 a day. So anybody turning up to work has to get that as a minimum. In short we all price ourselves too low. 

 

Though a less generous employer may take off an hour for breaks, and pay a 7 hour day / 35 hour week.

 

For parity with an employee on a good contract, a freelancer should be allowing extra in lieu  of holiday pay, sick pay, employers NI, doing their own admin / tax etc. plus an allowance for PPE and maybe travel. Probably 30-50+ % on the equivalent employed rate.

 

Not sure how many of us could ask that and get much work? 

 

2 hours ago, eggsarascal said:

Only on the books does minimum wage apply, if a freelancer agrees to work for less that’s up to them. If people are pricing low that their lookout, it’s not a race to the bottom, anyone can say shove it to the paymaster.

 

In theory maybe.

How many younger workers can afford to turn down £80 a day (or whatever they might be offered)  if they need to pay bills and get experience?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, andrew said:

 

Though a less generous employer may take off an hour for breaks, and pay a 7 hour day / 35 hour week.

 

For parity with an employee on a good contract, a freelancer should be allowing extra in lieu  of holiday pay, sick pay, employers NI, doing their own admin / tax etc. plus an allowance for PPE and maybe travel. Probably 30-50+ % on the equivalent employed rate.

 

Not sure how many of us could ask that and get much work? 

 

 

In theory maybe.

How many younger workers can afford to turn down £80 a day (or whatever they might be offered)  if they need to pay bills and get experience?

Read back, this fella has experience in forestry, and much more, he’s got machine tickets, and so on.  He’s ticketed up to his boots. He could pull on any construction site and earn decent money without being mugged off by some tree company, hence, I said, stick to his machine work.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.