That's what you would think, if you couldn't reason beyond one or two variables. It has just become more expensive to hire skilled workers that were freelancin

That's what you would think, if you couldn't reason beyond one or two variables. It has just become more expensive to hire skilled workers that were freelancing. This means the budget for permanent employees had to be culled. So while you laugh out of envy, you will notice that your raise or bonus will not go ahead. Companies also learn that the changed IR35 lets them decouple themselves from the responsibilities of an employer and they can no longer worry about unions if they move all their employees (except the core ones) to Umbrellas. The fire and re-hire schemes are getting more common. My friend was terminated this year and was given an opportunity to come back through an agency and an umbrella. Of course a slight pay cut and no more career path within the company he worked at.