client asking me not to work, even though I have a signed contract

[willcodeforbread]

My client is a financial services firm, and THEIR clients are global retails banks, etc. I work, as a contractor, alongside the firm's permanent members of staff and deliver work for the banks.
However, sometimes there are issues with the contract between the firm and the bank, and as such, the firm time and time again ask me not to work.

This is very jarring. We had a baby in October, just had Xmas, and again they've asked me to stop work for 4 weeks (so far) even though I'm contracted for 6 months until March 2017. They'll say "likely to start on so-and-so day" then it can easily just be moved a week again, because "our hands are tied".

What can I do? I thought about going in on Monday, and just doing whatever is on the Kanban board, and invoice at the end of the week as always. They'll not approve the invoice, but I'd have done work, right? Or can I claim from my professional insurance? (I have employer's liability, professional indemnity insurance, and general liability, but no extra payment protection, and I'll check with Hiscox about the former on Monday)

[cojak]

Such is the life of a contractor these days I'm afraid.

If your lifestyle can't flex like this you'll need to find another contract.

Or maybe permiedom is the way to go for the next few years if you need a regular income.

[SussexSeagull]

Such is the life of a contractor these days I'm afraid.

If your lifestyle can't flex like this you'll need to find another contract.

Or maybe permiedom is the way to go for the next few years if you need a regular income.

That is a bit school of hard knocks. This is an unusual circumstance and if they keep on asking you not to come in it is a commercial decision as you are not earning.

Take the four weeks to look for something else would be my advice.

[Cirrus]

What can I do?

My mate Colin got a retainer (x% of full rate) when he was paused. I'd talk to them about this. Right now they're taking the **** and that's never a good situation.

[jmo21]

Such is the life of a contractor these days I'm afraid.

Is it?

I get that contracts can be binned at a moments notice, that's part of the game,

I'd have thought this situation was quite out of the ordinary? Never heard of anyone getting a pause in the middle of a contract before tbh, never mind multiple, where the length changes mid pause.

OP - I wouldn't put up with that. I'd be looking to move on sharpish.

[ruasonid]

It dos sound a bit rough but business can be like that. You have all your eggs in one basket which does not help. As suggested above, maybe a perm position would make sense for a couple of years or so? As for your personal circumstances, that is relevant only to you.

[eek]

You are seen as an easy to use flexable resource making up numbers when required..

My advice based on the fact that you aren't indispensable would be to go permanent (for the regular income) and continue to skill up to the point that you would be indispensable on projects rather than just 1 an expensive but highly flexible resource..

[cojak]

Is it?

I get that contracts can be binned at a moments notice, that's part of the game,

I'd have thought this situation was quite out of the ordinary? Never heard of anyone getting a pause in the middle of a contract before tbh, never mind multiple, where the length changes mid pause.

OP - I wouldn't put up with that. I'd be looking to move on sharpish.

I'm saying that crappy treatment of contractors is no longer a rarity. If he doesn't like it don't expect to fix the contract, get a new one.

Or go permie.

[northernladuk]

Is it?

I get that contracts can be binned at a moments notice, that's part of the game,

I'd have thought this situation was quite out of the ordinary? Never heard of anyone getting a pause in the middle of a contract before tbh, never mind multiple, where the length changes mid pause.

OP - I wouldn't put up with that. I'd be looking to move on sharpish.

Well yes but no. Plenty of banking gigs introduce furloughs, clients ask contractors to take breaks around Xmas. Conversely contractors say they aren't available when they go on holidays. It's all part of the same thing. Unfortunate it's so long but it's not uncommon and over a year a contractor does exactly the same for longer combined periods.

He's definitely seen it worse than most of us but it is part of the way we work so it's unfortunate that's all.

[northernladuk]

I'm saying that crappy treatment of contractors is no longer a rarity. If he doesn't like it don't expect to fix the contract, get a new one.

Or go permie.

This isn't crappy treatment. It's part of what we do as you originally said. As I pointed out contractors are happy to be unavailable for 4 weeks or more on a year long gig but upset when exactly the same is done by the client.