AIBU for saying that my sister is not self-employed, and for wanting to report companies to HMRC?

[selfemployedmyarse]

I've changed my name on here to protect the innocent, and not so innocent.

Long story short. My sister has been self-employed for a number of years, and does an awful lot of shitty jobs for shittier companies, who are only too happy to tell her she is self-employed to save themselves some cash.

They provide her with data, access to their CRM system, often want to dictate the hours she works etc, and that alone to me says employee - rather than self-employed.

The wage is never a living wage, and in no way reflects that they are not contributing to her NI, or pension etc.

My frustration stems from the belief that these companies are exploiting the likes of my sister; who has a degree, but owing to the fact she suffers from anxiety, believes her only choice are these home based; for the most part poorly paid, mind-numbing, soul destroying jobs.

I had to laugh when I saw online that one of these companies purports to support the empowerment of women. You just keep telling yourself that, and maybe start your empowerment by paying a living wage, jackass!

My husband says I'm over invested, which yes, I probably am. However, is it right that these companies are getting away with this?

Soooo, AIBU?

My brother, who was unemployed for a period of time and applied for lots of jobs, came across this frequently. He went for an interview for a warehouse job, where they said he would need to register as self-employed. They dictated the hours and pay, which to me doesn't mean self-employed. I also saw an ad this morning on a local Facebook group from a cleaning company looking for cleaners. Hours varied and it was £10 an hour and using the client's products, but it was self-employed. I don't see how that can be? I don't know much, if anything, about being self-employed though so happy to be corrected!

@AbbyNormal the warehouse job definitely wouldn't be classed as self-employed.

Uncertain about the cleaning one - if you can work your own hours, then it would suggest self-employed, but if they're stating when you work, clearly not.

A good test of self employment is whether you can send someone else to do the job. You haven't given much info on what she does so it's hard to say. HMRC are supposedly cracking down on it though.

Look at IR35 on the HMRC website. There is an online tool which you can complete to give employment status. Sounds like the answers your sister would give the outcome would be 'employed'. There a large fine for companies not sticking to these rules or manipulating the outcome of the tool

I think whoever you report it to won't give a stuff if they are acting within the law, which these companies are. They are large organisations and have shit hot lawyers who know what they are talking about.

Thanks guys.

According to the HMRC website, her engagement should be classed as employed for tax purposes.

@Paramicha, that's what I think too. However, a few of them wouldn't be able to stump up the cash for a decent lawyer, which is why they do what they do I suppose.