These Contractor Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) is entered into by Project Recruit Management Services Ltd (“PRMS”), Menzies Llp 2nd Floor, Magna House, 18-32 London Road, Staines-Upon-Thames, United Kingdom, TW18 4BP and the individual or Limited Company stated in the associated SOW, hereinafter the “Contractor”.
DEFINITIONS
“Assignment” means the assignment specified in the SOW
“Client” as for whom the final services will be received as detailed in the SOW
“Terms” the contractual agreement between both parties formed by the signing of the SOW associated (via the hyperlink in the SOW) with these terms and conditions
“Contractor” Limited Company or Self-Employed individual
“Services” writing and research services agreed to be provided by the Contractor to PRMS
“SOW(s)” (Statement of Works) means the purchase order or such other document issued by PRMS to the Contractor confirming the Contractor’s Assignment with the Client including the details which are set out in the SOW. The SOW is associated with these terms via a hyperlink specified in the SOW
“Day(s)” a working day not including national or bank holidays or weekends (the UK workday calendar will be used as the international reference point).
IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows:
1. Orders
2. Relationship
Relationship between Contractor and Project Recruit Management Services Ltd
2.1 PRMS will engage the services of the Contractor on a demand basis only. This will result in work being carried out over a variety of working hours or days depending on the specific requirements of the SOW.
2.2 Contractor will not at any time be deemed as, or treated as, employee of PRMS or any client of PRMS. Neither PRMS nor the Contractor will consider their partnership as “exclusive” and as such will not enjoy a preferred status.
2.3 It is understood that the Contractor will be self-employed or a Limited company. Accordingly, PRMS will not at any time be liable for any local employment taxation or National Insurance (or similar local equivalent) liabilities arising on the Contractor as a result of completing any work for PRMS pursuant to these terms and conditions.
Reporting Relationship
2.4 The Contractor may receive an order directly from the Client on where the services are required. All orders will be confirmed in SOW that will be sent by PRMS. Stories and correspondence will be submitted by the Contractor directly to the Client.
2.5 The Contractor shall follow Client’s instructions as to the style and format of Work Product. The Contractor understands and agrees that Client may, in its discretion, revise, edit, change, and use Work Product and may use Work Product alone or in combination with other written or graphic content.
2.6 Contractor agrees to:
a.) provide Client with any notes, research, recordings or other newsgathering material, whether obtained on or off the record, on a timely basis for the purpose of fact-checking or otherwise editing the Work Product to Client standards,
b.) disclose to Client, prior to submission of the Work Product, any familial, contractual, fiduciary or financial relationship to any entities appearing in the Work Product or that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a perception of bias or self-interest,
c.) disclose to Client whether Contractor received or was promised any remuneration or any other form of consideration by a third party in connection with the Work Product,
d.) disclose to Client similar services or like tasks Contractor has or will perform for other organizations including but not limited to work performed for other news organizations or the publication of a book; and
e.) not provide to any third party any draft or prepublication version of the story and will treat all communications with Client editors as strictly confidential.
3. Expenses
3.1 For detailed information please refer to SOW attached to these Terms
3.2 Accurate expense claims must be submitted before month end for payment in the proceeding month
4. Contractor’s Warranty and Indemnity
4.1 The Contractor is aware that PRMS’ mission is to provide “Service with Integrity and Professionalism” and agrees to obtain knowledge of and comply with all PRMS’ procedures and work instructions, which form part of its commitment to provide the highest levels of quality and service to customers.
4.2 The Contractor shall indemnify and keep PRMS indemnified against:
a.) Any claims made against PRMS by any third party (including for the avoidance of doubt any Client of PRMS or any person engaged by that client) relating to the order set out in the SOW including, without limitation, all costs, damages, fees, judgment, expenses, and liability whatsoever incurred by PRMS in relation to any such claim.
b.)All actions, proceedings, costs, claims, demands, awards, fines, orders, and liabilities whatsoever arising in connection with the Contractor’s provision of service pursuant to the SOW.
5. Payment Terms
5.1 The Contractor will invoice PRMS on a monthly basis. Invoices will be paid within 7 days by PRMS where the following apply:
a.) An authorized timesheet has been received and matches the Contractor invoice for authorized and accepted work as set out in the SOW.
b.) The invoice and authorised timesheet are received by the first Monday of the first full week of any month.
5.2 PRMS shall be entitled to withhold or reduce any payment due to the Contractor in relation to the following:
a.) Any liability arising directly or indirectly from the Contractor’s breach of any provision of these terms and conditions of business as notified in writing by PRMS to the Contractor;
b.) Any damages suffered by PRMS and notified to the Contractor in writing pursuant to clause 3 of these terms and conditions of business;
c.) The Contractors acknowledgment (whether by credit note, verbal or written confirmation) that PRMS are entitled to withhold or reduce a payment;
d.) Any instance where PRMS shall be required to make a payment to a third party as a result of the Contractor’s breach of these terms and conditions of business.
5.3 Invoices submitted by the contractor after 60 days of completion of a project will not be paid by PRMS.
6. Price
The price at which subcontracted services are agreed between the parties, are contained in the SOW. The payment will be made in USD.
7. Termination
7.1 Either party giving the other party in writing the period of notice specified in the SOW may terminate an Assignment. Either party may terminate these Terms and any active SOW(s) by providing the greater of thirty days or as required under local law notice to the other party.
7.2 Notwithstanding sub-clauses 7.1 and 7.5 of these Terms, where required by the Client, PRMS may without notice and without liability instruct the Contractor to cease work on any assignments at any time, where:
a.) The Contractor has acted in breach of the rules, regulations, and policies applicable to the Client’s own staff that are applicable to independent contractors;
b.) The Client reasonably believes that the Contractor has not observed any condition of confidentiality applicable to the Contractor from time to time;
c.) The Contractor becomes insolvent, dissolved, or subject to a winding up petition;
d.) For any reason, the Contractor proves unsatisfactory to the Client.
7.3 Failure by the Contractor to give notice of termination as required in the SOW shall constitute a breach of contract and shall entitle PRMS to claim damages for the length of the breached notice period from the Contractor for any resulting loss suffered by PRMS.
7.4 If the Contractor is unable for any reason to provide services for an Assignment, the Contractor should inform PRMS by no later than 8.00am on the first day of absence to enable alternative arrangements to be made.
7.5 The Contractor acknowledges that the continuation of an Assignment is subject to and conditioned by the continuation of the contract entered into between PRMS and the Client. In the event that the contract between PRMS and the Client is terminated for any reason, the Assignment shall cease with immediate effect without liability to PRMS.
8. Complete Agreement
8.1 This agreement is the entire agreement between the parties and any special terms and conditions are as specified in the SOW. All changes hereto are to be in writing and agreed between the parties.
8.2 If any provision of these terms and conditions of business is held by any Court or other competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, the validity of the other provisions of these terms and conditions of business and the remainder of the provision in question should not be affected.
9. Confidentiality
9.1 By entering into this contract, the Contractor may from time to time be made aware of confidential information.
9.2 PRMS regards the following categories of information as examples of material that would be considered as confidential:
a.)Client lists or individual names
b.) Pricing and rates structure
c.) Supplier or customer agreements
d.) Technical developments
e.) Employee records and financial records
f.) Written content produced by the Contractor for any Client
g.) Instructions from Clients or PRMS to the Contractor
h.) Any unpublished newsgathering material, details of any advertising, marketing or promotional campaign which Client is to conduct; any information relating to expansion plans, business strategy, marketing plans and sales forecasts of Client; details of the employees and officers of Client; confidential reports or research commissioned by or provided to Client; all trade secrets or other confidential or proprietary information owned, developed, or possessed by Client or its affiliates pertaining to its business or business relationships
The above list is a guide and is not intended to be exhaustive. Neither party shall make any separate public statements regarding these Terms or any of its contents without the prior written consent of the other party. These restrictions shall continue to apply after the termination of these Terms without limitation in time but shall cease to apply to any information or knowledge that subsequently comes into the public domain, other than by way of unauthorized disclosure by Contractor.
9.3 As a condition of this contract, the Contractor will not, during the continuance of this contract, nor after the termination thereof, disclose or in any way make use of or benefit from any of the confidential knowledge, financial or other information including but not limited to the information referred to in paragraph 9.2, or any other products or systems of PRMS, its parent, or associated companies or any other organisation or individual with whom their work brings them into contact.
9.4 All notes, memoranda or any other material whatsoever relating to the business of PRMS shall remain the property of PRMS and shall together with any copies be returned to PRMS on demand and in the event of the termination of this contract.
9.5 The Contractor’s attention is drawn to the UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Any data relating to living individuals whether or not employed by PRMS, which is processed or held by the Contractor during PRMS’ business, must be regarded as confidential. It must not be disclosed to any unauthorized person or used for any purpose for which its use is not registered under the above Act.
10. Non-Waiver
10.1 A waiver by PRMS of a breach of a provision of these terms and conditions of business should not be considered as a waiver of a subsequent breach of the same or another provision;
10.2 The rights to terminate these terms and conditions of business given by clause 8 shall not prejudice any other right or remedy of PRMS in respect of the breach concerned or any other breach;
10.3 On termination of these terms and conditions of business for any reason, subject as otherwise provided in these terms and conditions of business and to any rights or obligations which have accrued prior to termination, neither party shall have any further obligation to the other under these terms and conditions of business.
11. Status and Tax Liability
11.1 Contractor acknowledges that it is engaged as an independent Contractor, and Contractor acknowledges, and shall procure that its Personnel acknowledge, that nothing in these Terms shall constitute or suggest a relationship of an employee, agent, director, or partner of PRMS and/or Client; and Contractor and Personnel are therefore not eligible for the benefits provided by PRMS or Client.
11.2 This agreement constitutes a contract for the provision of services and not a contract of employment and accordingly the Contractor shall be fully responsible for and shall indemnify PRMS for and in respect of:
a) Any income tax, national insurance, and social security contributions (local equivalent) and any other liability, deduction, contribution, assessment or claim arising from or made in connection with either the performance of the Services or any payment or benefit received by the Individual in respect of the Services, where such recovery is not prohibited by law. The Contractor shall further indemnify PRMS against all reasonable costs, expenses and any penalty, fine or interest incurred or payable by PRMS in connection with or in consequence of any such liability, deduction, contribution, assessment or claim;
b) Any liability arising from any employment-related claim or any claim based on worker status (including reasonable costs and expenses) brought by the Individual or any Substitute against PRMS arising out of or in connection with the provision of the Services.
11.3 PRMS may at its option satisfy such indemnity (in whole or in part) by way of deduction from payments due to the Contractor.
11.4 Neither Contractor nor any Personnel have authority to, and Contractor shall not, and shall ensure that none of its Personnel shall, make any representations or incur any liability or enter into any contracts or arrangements involving either PRMS or Client in any financial or other commitments.
11.5 These Terms does not appoint Contractor or Personnel as agent of either PRMS or Client, nor does it create any partnership or joint venture or in any manner operate to create any obligation on PRMS or Client in respect of any liability of Contractor or Personnel.
11.6 Contractor shall indemnify PRMS and/or Client in respect of any claims that may be made against either of them by any person, firm, company, or government agency relating to the provision of Services by Contractor under these Terms.
11.7 These Terms shall not constitute a contract of employment for any purposes whatsoever, and Contractor will be solely responsible for National Insurance contributions for any Personnel, and for all or any taxes payable in respect of fees and reimbursements paid under these Terms and will indemnify PRMS and/or Client in respect of any claims that may be made against either of them by the relevant authorities.
11.8 During the continuance of these Terms, Contractor shall, and shall procure that its Personnel shall (unless prevented by accident or ill-health) devote such of its time, attention, and abilities to the business of PRMS as may be necessary for the proper provision of its Services as Contractor or Personnel. However, this will not prevent Contractor or Personnel from acting in a similar or any other capacity for any other person, firm, or corporation (but subject to the confidentiality and restriction clauses in these Terms).
11.9 Contractor shall not, and shall procure that none of its Personnel shall, make any recommendations to a Client which would benefit or involve any third party in which the Contractor or Personnel or any person connected with either of them has a financial interest or material interest, unless it has fully disclosed such interest to PRMS and the Client and PRMS gives its written consent. All contractual protections granted to or reserved in these Terms by PRMS, including warranties, limitation of liabilities, remedies, indemnification, and confidentiality, shall accrue to and are for the benefit of Client.
11.10 These Terms and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
11.11 Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with these Terms or its subject matter or formation.
SCHEDULE 1
CRIMINAL DISCLOSURE / CONFIDENTIALITY / GDPR
To be completed by all Contractor Personnel who will access client data or premises
Criminal Disclosure
Home Office Circular HOC 102/88. Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exception) order 1975 as amended. You do not generally have to disclose details of a spent conviction. However, if the work you are applying for is exempt from Rehabilitations of Offenders Act by virtue of the (Exceptions) order because it involved access to persons who are disabled or addicted to drugs and alcohol or under 18 and over 65, you must reveal details of all convictions, spent or otherwise. Please note, that information will only be provided to and checked with the police authorities after a recruitment interview has taken place.
Do you have any convictions other than those which are spent? If yes, please give details:
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If Yes, please state these on the associated SOW
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Confidentiality
As a supplier to PRMS I shall:
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The above was introduced to regulate personal data held either on computer or within a manual filing system. It is our responsibility to ensure that the documentation held is relevant, accurate and where necessary, kept up to date. Any data held shall be processed fairly and lawfully and in accordance with the rights of data subjects under the Act. As an associate, you will have the right, upon written request, to be told what personal data about you is being processed. You will also have the right to be informed of the source of the data and to whom it may be disclosed.
In accordance with the GDPR, in order to allow PRMS to regularly update you by letter, email, text or phone, we must request that you indicate below your acceptance of these forms of communication.
Disclosure Declaration
In accordance with GDPR, I give my express consent (a) for you to disclose the entire contents of my personnel file to employees or the client; (b) for PRMS or the client to verify any of the details disclosed; and (c), where applicable, for you to retain a copy of my Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate.
SCHEDULE 2
STANDARDS AND SAFEGUARDS
To be completed by all Contractor Personnel who will access client data or premises
Quality Charter
To provide the best service to you and our clients we require everyone who works with us to agree to the following conditions:
Policy Statement on Equal Opportunities
Diversity and Equal Opportunity is about those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong. Diversity not only includes race, ethnicity, and gender, but also ability/disability, education, age, class, and many other differences.
PRMS is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all. We do not discriminate on grounds of race, colour, creed, ethnic or national origin or on grounds of sex, marital status, disability, or age.
It is the specific responsibility of all representatives of PRMS, to ensure that this policy is fully implemented, and they are aware of their responsibilities and the legal obligations that fall upon them and upon this company. All representatives of PRMS will comply with the legislation relating to sex and race discrimination. Discrimination against any person on the grounds of their ethnic origin, their sex or marital status will be regarded as serious misconduct and may result in dismissal.
Company Property and Copyright
All written material, whether held on paper, electronically or magnetically which was made or acquired by you during the course of your contract with us, is the property of our Client and, where appropriate, either the Client’s or our copyright. At the time of termination of your contract with us, or at any other time upon demand, you shall return to us any such material in your possession.
Any work produced and submitted by you to the Client shall be the property of the Client. Any work produced and submitted by you to the Client is work made for hire under applicable copyright laws, specially commissioned by Client. Any contribution you make to the work and all rights, title, and interest in the copyright thereon shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Client and shall be copyrighted solely in the name of the Client. To the extent that the work is not considered a work for hire, you assign to the Client the ownership of such work, including but not limited to, all copyright and intellectual property rights. These rights include, but are not limited to, the sole and exclusive right to print, publish, sell, copy, distribute, and license others to use the work in any form or medium, now, or hereafter existing, or in any language, during the full term of the copyright therein and throughout the world.
Password Protection
Passwords are an important aspect of computer security. A poorly chosen password may result in unauthorised access and/or exploitation of a company’s resources. All Contractors with access to company systems are responsible for taking appropriate steps to select and secure their passwords. Passwords must not be shared with anyone. All passwords are to be treated as sensitive, confidential information.
Monitoring
We reserve the right to monitor all email/IM and Internet activity on the PRMS or client network by you for the purposes of ensuring compliance with our policies and procedures and of ensuring compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements, and you hereby consent to such monitoring. Information acquired through such monitoring may be used as evidence in disciplinary proceedings.
Use of Social Networking Sites
Any work-related issue or material that could identify an individual who is a client or work colleague, which could adversely affect the Company, a client, or our relationship with any client, must not be placed on a social networking site. This means that work-related matters must not be placed on any such site at any time either during or outside of working hours and includes access via any computer equipment or mobile device.
SCHEDULE 3
ANTI-BRIBERY / WHISTLE BLOWERS POLICY AND PERSONAL HARRASSMENT POLICY
To be completed by all Contractor Personnel who will access client data or premises
ANTI-BRIBERY POLICY
Bribery is a criminal offence. The Company prohibits any form of bribery. We require compliance from everyone connected with our business, with the highest ethical standards and anti-bribery laws applicable. Integrity and transparency are of utmost importance to us, and we have a zero-tolerance attitude towards corrupt activities of any kind, whether committed by associates or by third parties acting for or on behalf of the Company.
Policy
It is prohibited, directly or indirectly, for any associate or person working on our behalf to offer, give, request or accept any bribe, i.e. gift, loan, payment, reward or advantage, either in cash or any other form of inducement, to or from any person or Company in order to gain commercial, contractual or regulatory advantage for the Company, or in order to gain any personal advantage for an individual or anyone connected with the individual in a way that is unethical.
Suspicion
If we suspect that you have committed an act of bribery or attempted bribery, an investigation will be carried out and, in line with our disciplinary procedure where appropriate, action may result in the cessation of our business arrangement with you.
Reporting
If you, as an associate or person working on our behalf, suspect that an act of bribery or attempted bribery has taken place, even if you are not personally involved, you are expected to report this to your PRMS contact. You may be asked to give a written account of events.
Gifts and Hospitality
We realise that the giving and receiving of gifts and hospitality as a reflection of friendship or appreciation where nothing is expected in return may occur, or even be commonplace, in our industry. This does not constitute bribery where it is proportionate and recorded properly. As the law is constantly changing, this policy is subject to review and the Company reserves the right to amend this policy without prior notice.
WHISTLE BLOWERS POLICY
Under certain circumstances, associates are protected from suffering any detriment or termination of employment if they make disclosures about organisations for whom they work.
Qualifying Disclosures
The Procedure
Treatment by others
Bullying, harassment, or any other detrimental treatment afforded to a colleague who has made a qualifying disclosure is unacceptable. Anyone found to have acted in such a manner will be subject to disciplinary action.
PERSONAL HARRASSMENT POLICY
Policy
Examples of Personal Harassment
Personal harassment takes many forms, and associates may not always realise that their behaviour constitutes as harassment. Personal harassment is unwanted behaviour by one associate towards another and examples of harassment include:
These examples are not exhaustive and disciplinary action at the appropriate level will be taken against associates committing any form of personal harassment.
SCHEDULE 4
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
To be completed by all Contractor Personnel who will access client data or premises
These are the Anti-Money Laundering (ALM) Policy and Procedures adopted by PRMS in compliance with The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 (MLR). The business will actively prevent and take measures to guard against being used as a medium for money laundering activities and terrorism financing activities and any other activity that facilitates money laundering or the funding of terrorist or criminal activities.
To these ends:
AML Procedures
1. CUSTOMER DUE DILIGENCE
The business has established a Know-Your-Client (KYC) policy to ensure that the identities of all new and existing Contractors are verified to a reasonable level of certainty. This will include all individual clients, all directors and shareholders with a stake holding of 25% or more of client companies, all partners of client partnerships, and every board member of client charities. Identities will be verified either online or face-to face or by a combination of both.
The following documentation may be presented by the individual:
In person
Not in person
As in person but additionally:
If the business fails to verify the identity of a client with reasonable certainty it will not establish a business relationship or proceed with the transaction. If a potential or existing client either refuses to provide the information described above when requested, or appears to have intentionally provided misleading information, the business shall refuse to commence a business relationship or proceed with the transaction requested.
2. RISK ASSESSMENT AND ONGOING MONITORING
The business shall take a risk-based approach in monitoring the financial activities of its clients. This will be carried out whilst preparing the accounts or tax returns or conducting any other business with the client. The business will actively not accept high-risk clients that are identified as follows:
The business will conduct ongoing monitoring of business relationships with customers, to ensure that the documents, date, or information held evidencing the customer’s identity are kept up to date.
The following are examples of changes in a client’s situation that may be considered suspicious:
Whenever there is cause for suspicion, the client will be asked to identify and verify the source or destination of the transactions, whether they be individuals or company beneficial owners. No action need be taken if there is no cause for suspicion.
3. MONITORING AND MANAGING COMPLIANCE
PRMS will regularly monitor the following procedures to ensure they are being carried out in accordance with the AML policies and procedures of the business:
PRMS will also monitor any developments in the MLR and the requirements of the MLR supervisory body. Changes will be made to the AML policies and procedures of the business when appropriate to ensure compliance.
4. SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING
A Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) will be made to the National Crime Agency (NCA) as soon as the knowledge or suspicion that criminal proceeds exist arises.
PRMS will be responsible for deciding whether or not the suspicion of illegal activity is great enough to justify the submission of a SAR. Further details on NCA and SARS can be found at http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/about-us/what-we-do/economic-crime/ukfiu/how-to-report-sars.
5. RECORD-KEEPING
Records of all identity checks will be maintained for up to 5 years after the termination of the business relationship or 5 years from the date when the transaction was completed. The business will ensure that all documents, data, or information held in evidence of customer identity are kept up to date.
Copies of any SAR, together with any supporting documentation filed will be maintained for 5 years from the date of tiling the SAR.
All records will be handled in confidence, stored securely, and will be capable of being retrieved without undue delay.
SCHEDULE 5:
TRAVEL AND EXPENSE POLICY
This policy is designed to provide Expense reimbursement requirements with our Client.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
FLIGHTS
RAIL
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
CAR RENTAL AND PERSONAL CAR USAGE/MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT
HOTELS
MEALS
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