58% of contractors value a good work-life balance over factors such as pay. In fact, 97% of contractors claim to be happier than traditional employees, citing the freedom and flexibility to choose their own working hours, amongst other things, as key factors for this.
However, as many contractors typically work intensively on any one project, the reality usually means that contractors can find it difficult to limit their working hours and switch off from the contract at hand. Yet, finding the perfect work-life balance offers contractors a range of benefits, from boosting productivity to increasing wellness. Fortunately, Umbrella Supermarket have compiled this handy guide to help every contractor strike the perfect work-life balance.
Working on projects intensively, it’s inevitable that even when contractors aren’t at work, they’re thinking about work - checking emails, notifications and work phones. It’s no surprise, considering that the average professional checks their emails and messages on average every 6 minutes.
The easiest way to switch off and enjoy your downtime without distractions from work is to turn off your work phone or switch off email notifications. This way, there’s not a constant reminder that you have new messages to be dealt with.
If a project requires a contractor to check their emails outside of usual office hours, set specific times that you will do this and stick to them. For example, check your emails at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm for no longer than 15 minutes each time.
Whether you work from home or in the client’s office, most contractors will find that they at least carry out admin, paperwork and marketing tasks from home. That’s why it’s important that contractors find a way to keep work and home separate in order to turn off and unwind at the end of the working day.
It’s a great idea to make use of a home office that you leave at the end of the day and don’t return to until the next morning. Even if a contractor’s home office is the dining room table, it’s important to put your laptop away and out of sight once you’ve finished - helping you distinguish between work time and home time. After all, with 26% of us taking our work home with us, simple things such as shutting the door behind you can really help switch off from work distractions.
As we’ve mentioned, contractors are 97% happier than traditional employees, finding their careers and way of working extremely rewarding. However, although contractors are happy, driven workers, it’s also important that they know when to switch off. After all, to stay productive and improve efficiency it’s important to unwind, enjoy some downtime and focus on other things you are passionate about.
However packed your schedule, it’s important to carve out the time to concentrate on your hobbies – whether that’s exercise, meeting with friends or spending time with family. This will leave contractors feeling re-energised and rearing to go with the contract at hand.
Contractors cite one of the biggest benefits to the contracting way of life is being their own boss, working to their own schedule. That freedom and flexibility is a huge perk, but it can often mean that contractors end up working long hours, often dipping back into work once they have left the office and returned home.
In fact, with only one third of British workers claiming to be satisfied with their work life balance, it’s hugely important that contractors work on their time management in order to maintain job satisfaction.
Building and sticking to a routine is a great way of distinguishing when it’s time to finish work and switch off for the day. For contractors working in the client’s office, using the commute home to wind down before logging off completely when they arrive home is a great way to create work-life boundaries. Use this time to do a final check of emails for the day, work on your contractor marketing or network on LinkedIn.
For contractors that work from home, dedicate a separate space for work time, turning off your laptop and shutting the door behind you at the end of the working day. Set and stick to specific hours for working, specific hours for carrying out admin tasks and specific times for enjoying some downtime.
Contractors are busy people. This is especially true of limited company contractors who are required to juggle work with running a business. With the working day dedicated to the contract at hand, it can be difficult for these contractors to find the time to take care of the admin and financial tasks that are required of running a business. This means these contractors typically take time out of their evenings or weekends to complete these essential tasks.
Delegating tasks can help contractors strike a better work-life balance, giving them the time to unwind, relax and avoid burnout. Using the services of an umbrella company allows contractors to take the stress out of organising admin, paperwork and finances, giving them more time to spend on doing the things that are important to them – whether that’s enjoying your downtime, spending time on your hobbies, or concentrating on family life.
When it comes to choosing an umbrella company, there’s no one size fits all. Every umbrella company is different, meaning it’s important that contractors take the time to find the perfect match for them. Umbrella Supermarket’s quick and easy Umbrella Company Comparison Tool shows contractors the best umbrella options for them based on their preferences - whether that’s more money, IR35 compliance or service. Ready to free up more of your time and find the perfect work-life balance?
Any contractor considering switching to an umbrella company will want to know how to find the best provider to work with.
Although you could spend your precious time and energy searching the web for the best umbrella company, there is an easier way – using an umbrella calculator.
In this guide, Umbrella Supermarket explains why every contractor should use an umbrella calculator in 2021.
If you are considering contracting you will need to decide on PAYE or umbrella.
It can be a difficult decision to make and contractors will inevitably be questioning which option will be the best for them.
To help every contractor get on the right track for them, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket looks at PAYE vs umbrella, outlining the key differences and how this will impact you.
There are many reasons that contractors across the UK opt to work under an umbrella company.
Umbrella companies offer an easy way to contract and remove the need for the contractors to worry about the burdens of admin, finances, tax and IR35, all things that limited company contractors have to deal with.
For this reason, many contractors will be weighing up their options and questioning whether it is worth using an umbrella company in 2021. To help make the decision that little bit easier, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this guide on the pros and cons of using an umbrella company.
Any contractor that is considering operating through an umbrella company in 2021 will need to understand Umbrella Company fees - from why an umbrella company charges fees, how they are paid to how much the contractor will pay.
In this guide, Umbrella Supermarket answers those all-important questions to help every contractor know exactly where they stand when it comes to umbrella company fees.
If you’ve made the decision to contract through an umbrella company in 2021, you will next need to find an umbrella company that’s right for you.
After all, there are lots of umbrella companies out there, so how do you know which one to choose?
To help you find the best umbrella company for you, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket outlines what makes a good umbrella company, so you can rest assured you’re making the right move.
One of the many advantages to operating through an umbrella company for contractors is that they become an employee of their chosen provider.
In turn, this means that the contractor will be automatically enrolled onto the umbrella company’s workplace pension scheme.
To help contractors find out more about umbrella company pensions Umbrella Supermarket has put together this handy guide.
If you are considering contracting through an umbrella company you will naturally have questions and queries over how they work.
After all, making the move to umbrella can be a big step for contractors. To help, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket explains how to get started with an umbrella company and share our top tips for using one in 2021.
PAYE or umbrella is a question asked by every contractor. Which one you opt for will have a big impact on your contracting career and lifestyle. So, it's important to make the right decision for you.
To help makes things a little bit easier, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this guide on PAYE or umbrella, outlining the key differences between each, to help you make the best and most informed decision for you.
One of the many benefits to working through an umbrella company is that you will receive holiday pay as well as a range of other statutory benefits including sick pay, maternity and paternity pay.
To find out more about umbrella company holiday pay, and how to calculate how much you will be entitled to, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this handy guide.
Contractors must make several decisions throughout their contracting careers. One big decision contractors have to make is how they will operate.
One way that contractors can work is through an umbrella company.
Umbrella companies have become an increasingly popular way to contract in the past few years, offering many benefits to the contractor. But, how do you know whether this option is right for you?
To help every contractor make the right decision for them, in this guide, Umbrella Supermarket explains when not to use an umbrella company.
There are tons of benefits to using an umbrella company, which is why they have become such a popular option for contractors in recent years.
After all, an umbrella company takes away the stress and hassle of operating through a limited company whilst offering contractors a range of advantages, such as statutory rights, paying them a salary, deducting correct tax levels and National Insurance, and taking care of tasks like expense processing and invoicing.
However, as more and more contractors opt to use the services of an umbrella company, more providers have started to claim that they are HMRC approved.
To bust the myths around HMRC approved umbrella companies and get straight to the facts, in today's guide Umbrella Supermarket look at whether HMRC approved umbrella companies really exist, so you know exactly where you stand.
If you're considering making the leap to contracting, you will understandably want to know how much you will have to pay in umbrella company costs. After all, this amount comes directly out of the contractor’s pocket, so it’s important to be clued up on how much you should expect to pay.
To help contractors, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket answer the all-important question of how umbrella companies cost in 2021.
