Locum question

[amjon]

Are locum pharmacists legally allowed to regualry work 3 days a week in the same premises? I heard that they legally become a regualr pharmacist if this is the case and their tax codes ect change. Can anyone clear this up?

[offthewall]

Im no expert, but that im aware of, its not a problem. I know of people working 4+ days every week in the same joint, and they are treated as locums :-P

I had a long chat with my accountant about this - to err on the side of caution I have decided to alternate 3 and 4 day weeks at my long-term gig and fill the rest of the time doing a mix of companies. That way it looks 'cleaner.' I also rotate the days i work - for three months i might do mon-thurs at the regular gig then switch to wed-sat for the next 3 months, lets say. Im fortunate because the owner is sympathetic. Its all about how it looks to whoever views your accounts. Try and make your work situation look as unstable as possible.

[johnep]

You need to work for at least two different companies to prevent the IR saying you are employed.
johnep

[Pharmanaut]

You need to work for at least two different companies to prevent the IR saying you are employed.
johnep

A big gap between bookings at places helps.
My longest is 3 months.

[Defblade]

There are no hard-and-fast rules; the PDA have an article about the things the IR will consider when deciding (you are a member of course?).

[SolomonQ]

I think a way around this would the use of an agency. If direct bookings already established then approach an agency with the offer of a relatively smaller fee than they would normally get for a booking, they should be happy because they're getting money for nothing and the tax man should not see any reason to be unhappy.

I mostly work for the same company who ask for me personally if they need a locum, but I have no direct contact with the company HQ, although I know most of them because of the sheer number of times i've worked for them. I've got bookings going upto April with this same company, and all my saturdays of 2010

[Shaeeb]

Read up on the IR35 rules and regulations, that should clear things up and from what I know, falling under the criteria of managed service companies is the way to go.

[pharmalocum]

Hi all, i've got a little question i'd love to have answered

i've been having a bit of a career break... silly really cos i haven't actually started my career yet! qualified in july this year but then decided to have an unofficial late maternity leave (had my little boy when in final year uni).

really wanna start work, i'm confident about all the pharmacy stuff, talking to people, working with others only one problem...and its bugging me (clue-2.50am awake yet no caffeine inside me)

...its such a stupid, basic question you're all gonna laugh.... but here goes.

how will i be paid as a locum?£
yep that's what me worries boil done to i'm afraid money money money (product of this materialistic society- but i do have values...honestly)

i can do the pharmacy stuff-least i think i can! but dunno how the money comes-cash, cheque, bank, head office, agency, trees???

please enlighten me -thanks

[Shaeeb]

You should be able to find all the information in this post somewhere or in the locum area of this forum.

Anyway, when you are freelancing(locum) as a pharmacist you will be paid directly to your bank account. Most companies will want you to fill out a form along with certain details. An example is below:

Form 1 (new starter form) - Your name, address and bank details.

Form 2 (locum claim form) - details of hours worked, rates charged and any subsistence etc.

For each company you would have to fill in a starter form, that is if you have not worked for their chain before...thereafter you would only need to fill form 2 in every time you worked for that particular chain in the future.

From my experience the following companies use the above system:

-Rowlands
-Superdrug
-Tesco
-Morrisons
-Boots (but usually you need to invoice them with your own written copy, they do not provide any sheets to fill in except registering on their nationwide mystorenet payment system)

Sainsbury's and Asda as far as I know, now use the Global expense system, which require you the locum to fill out a form of your claim instore and then submit a claim online via the internet (using Internet explorer!) and logging on to global expense's website. Detailed information is normally provided for you to do this.

Lloyds, have a system kept in each store called merlin which you use to file your claim, its all done on computer during the day of employment and is fairly simple. Staff should help you if you find it difficult.

That's more or less the way you get paid these days.

Some indpendents may wish to pay you cash, but the major chains do not use the lattter method these days.

Note if you are going through an agency, they will certainly get you a job. However, do not expect them to chase up money for you because they are not obliged to do as such.

Are you self employed or Limited?

Hope the above info helps.

PM me if you need any other info.

[pharmalocum]

Thank you for all the info Shaeeb...its really helpful-

having always been paid into the bank as an employee i just didn't know what to expect but all the payment systems seem straightforward. so its all good...thanks again

ps answer to your question-gonna stay self employed cos not gonna be working many hours