That's very true. And with full time staff there's also all the NI stuff to deal with (in the UK). Having said that, there's a general attitude from employers

That's very true. And with full time staff there's also all the NI stuff to deal with (in the UK). Having said that, there's a general attitude from employers (at least everywhere I've worked) of "I'm paying this person £400 a day, they'd better be good." I've been on both sides, and from the employers side you're definitely willing to cut staff a lot more slack than contractors (though that may be totally irrational).