Work While Travelling

RedRochey

I plan on going travelling in September (please god!) and might have the opportunity to continue some of my work while travelling, a few hours a day here and there sort of thing

I'm wondering has anyone done this before and what experience they have of it?

How was the pay worked out? Based on my salary my current hourly rate is €25, on one hand I'll be doing less work so should be paid less but on the other hand I'll be working while effectively on holidays so I should be paid a little more, thoughts?

RedXIV

Are you a daily rate contractor or a full time employee?

I had a friend who was working for a company and went to the states for a few months to travel but got his 7.5 contracted hours in a day and effectively worked while travelling. That was normal pay for a full time contractor. If you're not doing the full hours, I'd be wary about committing to doing part time hours here and there. Unless you can commit to a full day's work, I wouldn't bother trying to get paid for it. Not only is it going to be a difficult case to get buy in for, but can potentially lead to tax issues and accounting departments don't really like it.

Thoie

Are you a PAYE employee, or self employed? Are you normally paid by the hour, or have you just calculated that from an annual salary?

Are you taking a sabbatical from a permanent job to go travelling, and has your employer specifically asked you to do a few hours each week while away, or have you offered? Or is this just a "normal" 2-3 week holiday from work?

RedRochey

I'm a full time employee but I handed in my notice to take a year out travelling. There is a recruitment freeze at work so they can't replace me so I offered to do some work while travelling, the boss seemed to like that idea.

The €25 an hour is based off my salary of €50k.

We haven't talked about any details such as how many hours I'm expected to work or when I'm supposed to be "working".

Thoie

You'd essentially be a contractor, in which case your hourly rate would be higher than an employee's rate, as you'd need to take into account differences in the amount of tax/PRSI etc that you'll pay, lack of sick pay, lack of pension contributions from employer, etc. If you're not "normally resident" in Ireland (which you won't be, if you're travelling all year), tax could be a bit of a PITA.

I'd sit down with your boss soon, and figure out what exactly he's looking for. Is is "I need you every Tuesday for 3 hours" or "I need about 10 hours a week, but just get things to me by Friday".

Is there any special equipment you'd need to take (e.g. company laptop with security apps), or is it OK to work off gmail and your own tablet?

It sounds quite messy, and I'd talk to an accountant for advice before agreeing to anything.

RedRochey

Well we'd be back by July so not the full year and I'm unsure whether I'd be working until then, might only be for a few months, don't know yet really

I think it would more likely be "I need about 10 hours a week, but just get things to me by Friday".

As a contractor would I have to self assess my own taxes or will work cover that?

RedRochey

Thoie wrote: »

It sounds quite messy, and I'd talk to an accountant for advice before agreeing to anything.

How is it messy, are contractors not common enough?

RedXIV

RedRochey wrote: »

How is it messy, are contractors not common enough?

Contractors with crystal clear requirements are common enough You have still to define the number of hours you're going to work, how many days a week, your rate and if there is tax implications of whatever country you'll be in while doing the work

I highly recommend you talk to an accountant, but also you revise your rates even after offering this "favour" to your current boss. You'll want to get a rock solid contract in place. Your boss may believe its perfectly fine to call you in for 8 hours one day with 24 hours notice and that may not suit your travel etc.

RedRochey

OK thanks, still a lot to hash out but I wanted to be some bit prepared before meeting with my boss again about this

Creamy Goodness

why should you be paid more because you're on holidays?

just go on your holidays, put down the tools and recharge. it's been a tough year for everyone why work on your holidays if you don't have to (and if you have to I'd be suggesting you shouldn't be going on holidays).

Thoie

RedRochey wrote: »

How is it messy, are contractors not common enough?

Contractors are common - from the company's perspective, you'd have an agreement with them to invoice them for the hours done per week/month. Your boss, or whoever, would sign off on the timesheet you'd submit, and the accounts dept would arrange payment.

I think it's more messy from your perspective. As a contractor you'd have to do your own tax returns (or hire an accountant to do it). It's not horrendously complicated, but it's not child's play either. There are questions around what country you'll actually pay tax in, if you're out of Ireland for more than x amount of time. There can be implications for your eventual state pension if you're not making PRSI contributions in Ireland (though that consideration might be there even if you don't do any work while abroad).

Add to that things like the need to bring any special equipment with you - fine if you're travelling in luxury, less convenient if you're riding a llama across the Andes for 6 weeks. This is where the messiness might/might not come in.

krissovo

It can be done but with your rate of pay it might be more hassle than its worth, umbrella company fees, potential issues with tax residency and double taxation agreements may impact what you actually earn.

Its easy to become a contractor, just join an umbrella company and to you it's as if you are PAYE employee but it comes at a cost. They are fine if you are earning hundreds a day but hundreds a week may not be scalable.

If you are retaining tax residency in Ireland i.e. pay your full tax and PRSI and you do not break local tax rules i.e. extended stays in some countries may make you eligible for local tax then it's simple. Work when you want and pay Irish tax.

Do consider your hourly rate, if you are a specialist and will be providing subject matter expertise then ~50euro an hour should not be a surprise. If its generic work that can be done by most people then target a little more than your 25euro.

Mrs OBumble

Where are you hoping to travel to (in a pandemic, no less)?

What kind of visa will you be on, can you get one that lets you work in the country? Not an issue if you're travelling in the EU for sure, but most of the rest of the world it will be different.

Rodney Bathgate

Stay safe, stay home.