ASK HR: Help me decide if I should accept this new job offer

I work as a contributor writer for a local newspaper which means that I get paid depending on the number of articles I write. My friend works for the same company and besides being paid for published articles, she gets a retainer. While I get deducted withholding tax, she is deducted P.A.Y.E so we take home almost the same amount since P.A.Y.E is way higher than withholding tax. Just recently, my boss said that the company was willing to give me a retainer. This should have made me happy but it threw me into a confusion. As a HR officer, please guide me. Should I accept the retainer or continue working as a contributor? Keep in mind that my friend doesn’t get any benefits such as medical insurance or bonuses from the company.

From the description of your situation, it appears that a key difference between your employment contract and that of your friend is that you are treated as a consultant and she; as an employee. Although this has not been explicitly expressed, you seem to be apprehensive about agreeing to receive a retainer as you consider that you will be no better than your friend from a compensation point of view.

To help you make up your mind, it might help to mull over the following questions: what do other employees on retainer seem to gain over the long term compared to consultants? Based on your observation, who between the employee and the consultant stands higher chances of being eventually offered benefits and bonuses? What unstated message is generally understood to be carried by the signal of being offered a retainer in your organisation? Are there special non-financial benefits that accrue to those on a retainer? Are they eligible for annual leave? Do they receive the retainer if they fall ill and cannot attend to their duties? What would be the best outcome of either decision for you in the circumstances?

Beyond the concerns of your current terms of employment, what is your personal career objective? Do you wish to continue contributing articles as you pursue other career interests or to direct all your attention and energies to writing? Would agreeing to be on a retainer be a step in the direction of your career dreams? Bear in mind that while it is good to remain aware of your environment, including aspects such as your colleagues’ pay, it is even better to be committed to your personal career aspirations. You may share similar pay with your friend today but your career goals for tomorrow may be entirely different. Beat your own path towards your destiny.