Yes it is a nationwide scandal, in IT, media, even the civil service and the BBC. If it looks like an employee and quacks like an employee then it should be taxed like an employee.
No it is not a scandal and no I am not an employee. I have no expectation of ongoing work. I come in, I get going fast, I work efficiently and smartly and I leave when the project is done.
Very different ballgame to permanent employment. Permanent work also pays really badly as a rule.
As long as "when the project is done" is a reasonable length of time (ie. weeks or months, not years) then I'd say you're not quacking like an employee.
I don't think working efficiently and smartly is a good criterion for judging whether or not you quack like an employee.
Well given the standard of perm workers I've been around lately... it seems to be a different mindset and good contractors seem more aware they're there to get the job done.
YMMV of course. And yes, I tend to find six months is a good timespan, project dependent of course. I know there are contractors who hang around at places for years, that seems like something different.
Very different ballgame to permanent employment. Permanent work also pays really badly as a rule.