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Sometimes, the time comes when you need to leave your self-employment behind for whatever reason, and head back to work for someone else. This may be in an office, a shop, or you may even become one of the ! women in construction
When you make this leap, it can be difficult to adjust - there is a whole world of difference between working for yourself and working for someone else and following their rules. To help this transition go a little smoother, we have put together a few useful tips.
Get in Touch with Your Co-Workers
We recommend getting in touch with your co-workers before joining the company. This will give you the chance to make some connections and make the workplace a lot more comfortable when you arrive. Social media has made networking a lot easier. We aren't suggesting you go on a Facebook stalking session, but platforms such as allow you to do some research into the people who work for the company, so type in the name of your new employer and have a look through their page if they have one. Take a look to see how many of their employees have profiles on there. You can either use the site messaging service to say a quick hello and introduce yourself or note down their email and go from there.
Be clear about your rights and responsibilities.
Being self-employed and working by your own rules is entirely different to having to live and work by someone else. It is in your best interests to know exactly what is expected of you but also what they should be doing. You are allowed at the very minimum a fair wage, regular payment, a safe environment to work in and a set amount of holidays every year.
There is usually an HR department to go to when you have an issue, so don't be afraid to speak to them before a problem gets too big - after all, that is what they are there for!
Get used to the regular wage.
The one huge benefit of working for someone else rather than yourself is that you are guaranteed a regular wage. Of course, some sorts of contracts, such as zero-hour ones, mean it may not be the same every single week or month, but you know that a chunk of money is guaranteed in your account on a regular basis, rather than you having to chase invoices and payments, and not knowing from one month to the next if you are going to earn anything. This can be a huge adjustment and will involve you changing the way you run your household budget. Make sure that you check your payslips every payday to ensure you are paying the correct amount of tax and that all the deductions are correct.
Moving from self-employment to employment can be difficult, but with these tips, it will be a much smoother process for all involved!
