How to deal with discrimination as a contractor

[luimneach2005]

I'm a lady with 20 years professional experience, 8 have been contracting. I've rarely had issues bar one as a permie re blokes who worked for me making 20k more. That was over a decade ago. However I'm finding sexism raising it's head the last few years.
The type of work I do requires 1. I'm online 7-10 supporting global clients and 2. Working to prepare materials.
My last contract my male peers were allowed one day every week to work from home. I was not allowed to do so, and on one occasion when I worked a 13 hour day from home to get information ready for the CDO I had my timesheet marked down. When I queried it I was told "I don't care what your contract says". So I left.
In this next contract I'm facing exactly the same thing.
One male colleague has worked from home in another country, a few have worked from home waiting on deliveries, looking after kids or through illness. Last week I had a pinched sciatic nerve and was unable to walk (I have a two hour commute each way). I was told not to work that day but to dial into meetings if I wished. Basically we won't pay you but please work for free.

So - again different rules for chicks.

Now its all very well to say walk - but I am losing income because of this. I lost a lot in my last gig (6 figures) and would be similar here if I walked.
My question is - how do contractors use the laws of the land to protect them from such unlawful discrimination?? I am tired of being a female in a man's world and just having to suck it up.

[Dallas]

These attitudes towards women are common and won't change in your working life.

Before all the regulars chip in with NKOTBAC BS I would suggest you consider a different area and look to the womens networks for guidance.

Posting this on a predominantly Men in banking IT forum may get you a mature insight from a few but once the masses kick in you may face the usual stereotypical BS.

[nucastle]

You aren't an employee though.

If the rules of the contract aren't being adhered to, either you are in breach, they are in breach, or someone is turning a blind eye.

You could 'protect' yourself come renewal with an adjustment to terms that suits you, and see if they like that. If you are valuable enough to them, they might agree. If you are in a skill-set that is ten a penny, then you are of course rolling the dice.

Sexism is one of the only 'isms everyone has to deal with at work. As a consultant you get to choose what you deem acceptable or not.

[luimneach2005]

These attitudes towards women are common and won't change in your working life.

Before all the regulars chip in with NKOTBAC BS I would suggest you consider a different area and look to the womens networks for guidance.

Posting this on a predominantly Men in banking IT forum may get you a mature insight from a few but once the masses kick in you may face the usual stereotypical BS.

Thanks for the tip - have to admit I avoid "Women only" things as I want to believe that we can all just be equals but I appreciate your tip and will go look.

[luimneach2005]

You aren't an employee though.

If the rules of the contract aren't being adhered to, either you are in breach, they are in breach, or someone is turning a blind eye.

You could 'protect' yourself come renewal with an adjustment to terms that suits you, and see if they like that. If you are valuable enough to them, they might agree. If you are in a skill-set that is ten a penny, then you are of course rolling the dice.

Sexism is one of the only 'isms everyone has to deal with at work. As a consultant you get to choose what you deem acceptable or not.

They are in breach as I have a contract that states autonomy over how I provide service. I am a specialist, known in the industry as a bit of a guru and I will not renew. It's infuriating that my expertise is trumped by gender and I suspect if I try to enforce my contract it will happen again.

My understanding was that discrimination in working practice is illegal regardless of client, contractor, consultant or employee.

[Dallas]

Thanks for the tip - have to admit I avoid "Women only" things as I want to believe that we can all just be equals but I appreciate your tip and will go look.

I am hardly the epitome of a girls girl either but I do think there needs to be a place where women can discuss this without the chauvinists and the feminists.

The womens networks facilitate this.

Turning to your contract and legal avenues are pragmatically for the individual a waste of time unless you have the WFH terms in there. The issue is culture and tolerance that is set by management, that's a gamble everyone takes in contract and permie land. If you were a permie I'd go down the mentorship route but as an independent you don't carry much weight individually.

[MrMarkyMark]

Either you have been unlucky the last two times, or you haven't set expectations in the initial steps of engagement.
You have to be careful with the sexism tag, it may just be that people feel they can treat you differently. This can happen to anyone.

I have worked in contracts, with peers, who were not women. I got treated differently from two others because I wouldn't allow myself to be put upon / lightly bullied.
This involved firmly putting my foot down, when expected, unpaid, extra hours were requested or standing up against poor management.

Anyway, sounds all quite rough, in all, so good luck with it.

[luimneach2005]

Either you have been unlucky the last two times, or you haven't set expectations in the initial steps of engagement.
You have to be careful with the sexism tag, it may just be that people feel they can treat you differently. This can happen to anyone.

I have worked in contracts, with peers, who were not women. I got treated differently from two others because I wouldn't allow myself to be put upon / lightly bullied.
This involved firmly putting my foot down, when expected, unpaid, extra hours were requested or standing up against poor management.

Anyway, sounds all quite rough, in all, so good luck with it.

Thanks - I believe I did set the tone of the engagement fine (indeed the managers managers manager agrees) but I having spent 20 years trying not to use the sexism tag I've really had enough now. It's blindingly obvious in so many cases, and to be frank the problem is most Brits ignore it or are afraid to call it out. That's why we're still in these situations in my opinion.

[NotAllThere]

...
Posting this on a predominantly Men in banking IT forum may get you a mature insight from a few but once the masses kick in you may face the usual stereotypical BS.

Any masses kicking in with stereotypical BS will find their posts rapidly kicked out, and possibly their account as well.

To me this is clearly discriminatory behaviour. If it is actionable, only a lawyer could really tell. On the face of it, I think it is. The problem is that if you're in a small world, no matter how good you are, and no matter how unfair the treatment, if you cause clients problems, then it can affect your chance of finding work. People who are crap don't understand the worth of good people.

As far as working 13 hours and having your timesheet amended: Does your contract specify an hourly rate? Do you work through an agency and are you opted in? Frankly, if I've done work and not been paid for it, I would dispassionately apply my dunning process all the way to court until I got paid.

[pr1]

They are in breach as I have a contract that states autonomy over how I provide service. I am a specialist, known in the industry as a bit of a guru and I will not renew. It's infuriating that my expertise is trumped by gender and I suspect if I try to enforce my contract it will happen again.

My understanding was that discrimination in working practice is illegal regardless of client, contractor, consultant or employee.

(playing devils advocate)

Are you sure the discrimination you're seeing/perceiving is because of your gender and not you being a PITA or egocentric/full of yourself or that they [the men you mention] are better at negotiating than you? Correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation

I personally have no prejudice with gender, but I (like most people) love to try and catch someone out/make an example of someone boasts they're the bees knees in something I know inside out