Does anyone know how to take a sick day off from work and get paid for it if you're a contractor, similar to if you were employed with full timer benefits?
Obviously I know that being a contractor, holiday pay and sick leave entitlements are built into your rate, but I was thinking there may be some sort of insurance you could take out if you are sick for a day or two (legitimately of course) and can't get to work.
Does anyone have any ideas?
There are 2 ways to achieve this.
1. Work twice as hard before the sick day, and get the work done.
2. Work twice as hard the day after you come back.
The only drawback is the will be no more coin in your pocket for the extra effort though.
In all seriousness depending on the contract in place. An incentive based system where you work for a project and provide a lump sum payment, or get rewarded for finishing a job earlier provides an incentive for you to complete the same work in less time. This may give you the opportunity to take sick days, or provide an opportunity to take on an additional contract.
There are plenty of benefits for contractual work. Having a sick day is not one of them.
KR[:)
There are various forms of wage insurance for subcontractors,
heres just 1
www.traderisk.com.au/subcontractors-insurance
Thanks for that guys, I was thinking of it from a legitimate perspective, recently moved in with the inlaws who aren't the most considerate of people when they are sick.
Not to mention the sick people who come into work coughing and spluttering all over everything and everyone when they should be home in bed.
If I get laid off with the flu for a day or two I'd like to know I'm not going to lose out too much in pay.
Seems like working a bit extra in the mean time to 'store the nuts for the winter' is the best way to go.
P.S.- redthumbs, seriously?
if you want sick leave then go full-time. you can't have your cake and eat it too
There is income protection insurance. However to get insurance that would cover a day off when you have a cold would be so prohibitably expense its not worth having.
Probably the best bet is to get insurance that covers for serious injury or illness such as cancer and just accept the loss of income if you are too sick for work.
You just have to look at your income as a contractor over the year, or five, not as a day-to-day thing. If you do you'll go mad.
