Comments by tony merrick

tony merrick
Member - 3 posts

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me...
I run a small door security firm. Between 14 -18 Different door supervisors cover shifts for me and wish to do so as self employed individuals offering their services. Every week my clients inform me what days/hours they require doorstaff. I then ask the door supervisors if they would be happy to cover the shifts.

Half the time, the boys who worked the previous weekend may not be available due to other work offered, girlfriends/wives/children commitments or just wish to go on nights out etc.

There is no mutual obligation for them to work on my behalf or for me to offer them work. In fact this would be impossible as some of the venues do not always require staff.

I have an appointment with the HMRC as they wish to make me change my relationship with them to employer and put them on PAYE. Can they force me to do this?

I have been looking through some case law on the HMRC site and have found some precedents stating that to prove that I am an employer then mutual obligation must be proved. Has anyone got any experience in this and could give me some advice please?

By the way, the main reason I do not wish to go PAYE is that most of my best doormen will probably look for work with firms elsewhere or just quit as they do not want to lose their sefl employed status and are only doing the odd saturday night here and there.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

tony merrick
Member - 3 posts

Hi Gary, Im new to this forum but run a door security firm myself. The way I have read it is that to run a security firm you must have done the relevant course and hold the relevant qualification but you do not need to hold a license unless you are carrying out the duties yourself.

I think its perfectly fine for the hotel to employ two in house doormen as long as their licenses are valid. If in doubt, check on http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home I hope this helps.