Miffed we weren't invited to work Xmas do.

[YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus]

So myself and another lady work PT self-employed for a large local firm. Regardless of being PT we have a role integral to the business and have probably saved them thousands of pounds in payouts due to complaints by taking preemptive/preventative measures. We also go over and above in the busy summer period, grafting our backsides off doing physical jobs that aren't in our remit to pick up the slack when other staff members are off on hols. We do this happily, without complaint because we know how screwed they'd be if we didn't.

Aaanyhoo, it became apparent last week that myself and other lady hadn't been invited to their Xmas do. No explanation, it wasn't even acknowledged at any point. All the FT employed staff went out to a party night at a hotel on an evening that myself and the other lady were in the office, so it's not like it happened on a day we weren't in. We all get on really well, there's no historical beef or anything, it's just totally unexplained and other than the fact we are PT and self employed I can't see any reason why we'd be excluded. AIBU to feel really miffed and to feel as though after the work we've put in this year it's a shitty way to treat people?
I made a jokey comment about us not being invited and everyone else in the office was really surprised that we weren't, so this is down to one of two managers or whoever organised it. I'm really pissed off about it and feel like I would rather work for someone who at least acknowledges our hard work and considers us part of the team. Am I overreacting?

You are not “part of the team” if you are self employed

Don't be daft. If you work in a team you're part of a team. If you come in Sunday to move office, if you pick up slack during busy times and if you do your job which involves liaising with other members of (FT employed by the company) staff. That's what a team is.

HMRC rules are pretty strict, but tbh there are ways around it and it would have been nice if the company hadn't simply excluded people who they employ on whatever terms.

It's such a pity that they'll now work to rule and be seen as less than team-players but them's the breaks.

I've worked for several companies that have a large bank of self employed contracters and they're never invited to any paid for staff entertainment.

There's an old saying, better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you might be an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt

@Lifecraft you get the obnoxious award for today..

YABU simply for using the word "myself" wrongly.

But also because you are self-employed. So not on the staff. So not at the staff Christmas party.

Just IR35 I'm afraid. Companies are more aware of the rules around contractors now the law has been updated. It's a shame for you two though.

I’m a self-employed locum and never get invited to the Christmas party of any of the places I’ve worked at sadly.

Although it feels like a slight it probably wasnt intended to be one. Works dos are horrendous, focus on that rather than feel offended

I worked part time for a few years because of family commitment and was never excluded from any do, even helped to organise. It's bad form not to include all staff. In your position I would be quite hurt. A lot of places wouldn't survive without part timers.

I've been self employed for 16 years and only once in that time have I ever been invited to a client's xmas bash.

Presumably this isn't the only company you work for, @YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus? Do you get invited to your other clients' xmas parties?

You may well actually be an employee under HMRC rules.

The set up sounds like “false self employment”.

That's what I was thinking. OP hasn't mentioned other clients.

It's possible that the management layer lacks leadership competence.

Consider:

Q. What's the point of a team event?
A. To build team cohesion and hopefully improve the way the members work together for the greater good of the company

Q. What's the point of excluding some member of the team?
A. To achieve the opposite.

Off topic a bit but....Are you sure you are legally self employed? You sound like an employee to me.

"You are likely to be an employee if:

You can be told what work to do, as well as how, where and when to do it.
You have to do the work yourself.
You can be moved from task to task.
You are contracted to work a set number of hours and get a regular wage or salary, even if there is no work available.
You have an employment contract and work for a business which is not your own and in which you are not a partner.
The person or company you work for gives you time off for things like sickness and holidays, which is usually paid subject to the terms of the employment or according to statutory rules.
You can be employed even if you only work part time or have flexible hours or if you are only on a short contract. But if you have a lot of short contracts which you organise and set up yourself, you are more likely to be self-employed."

You’re self employed and have presumably worked there for less than one year (you don’t mention what happened last year) - so I’m not surprised

I worked part time for a few years because of family commitment and was never excluded from any do, even helped to organise. It's bad form not to include all staff. In your position I would be quite hurt. A lot of places wouldn't survive without part timers.

But this isn't about being part-time or 'part of the team'. This is about strict HMRC rules governing self-employed workers which have significant implications for both companies and contractors if they are found to be non-compliant.

Management will usually exclude self employed/contractors from team lunches/Xmas dinner and the like where I have worked. However, I personally think it's bad for morale so I have always paid for mine contractors to go - I feel they are part of the team anyway.

As others have said this is about HMRC and their current big focus on contractors/freelancers and whether they ought to really be considered an employee.

Agree with the posters who think that sounds like a false self employment setup.

@Romaine, It doesn't take a lot of time or consideration to explain to the two excluded ladies if there is a reason not to invite them.

That's beyond shit. All contractors (FT and PT) are invited to our Xmas do, no way would it be restricted to permanent staff.

i know its awful, but in our company contractors are not invited to the xmas party. We have said it many a time to HR however they say each time its global Policy, Its seen as some sort of bribe or something to invite them :( I know it makes you feel crap. Do what you said you were going to and organise your own

@wexone it's more likely they resent paying the rates contractors charge! Hardly the fault of contractors.

I employ the services of freelancers for my business and the rules around employee benefits are fiddly - but from my accountants advice we could still take them for a thank you brunch as our do!

It really doesn't sound like you are truly self-employed though. Every piece of information you've shared sounds like you are an employee, without the benefit of stability/pension etc.

Here's a really quick took from gov.uk which should help you find out for sure: www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax

It probably is because of the hmrc rules and possibly head of accounts wont allow as all your expenses if invited are not allowable expenses for vat or corporation tax

At my workplace we give contractors the option to pay fully to join a Christmas party as they usually earn a lot more than employees and don’t qualify for the contribution. They all agree to go as they love Christmas parties and need them more than us in terms of networking etc. I think it’s a bit mean that you weren’t offered that option to be honest.

The self employed people at my work get invited to the Christmas do which gets paid for by the boss, I think it was mean not to invite you both and I would definitely bring it up.