Normal working hours

[PTP]

I've searched and the threads I found most interesting were
http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...en-before.html
http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...-contract.html
NLUK seems to suggest don't worry what the contract says, just come to agreement with client during the project.

I still want to run it through here the terms on my draft contract about hours
"Normal Working Hours" means 5 professional working days
The Consultant is required to provide services for a Professional Working Day, which is 9 hours including an
unpaid lunch hour, the Consultant shall provide the required services in order to complete any work allocated
by the Client. The only permissible values are 0, 0.5 or 1 day. No other values shall be accepted.

Am I right in thinking this means 8 hours of work each day ?
Am I right in thinking this means I've not got the freedom to do 6 hours one day if I've done 10 hours another and workloads fit into this?
Does having to do 40 hours each week when perms only have to do 35 make you any less of a disguised employee?

To have the flexibility I want, I'm tempted to try asking the agency to change it to:
*40 hours per week
or in case they fear that might mean I try doing 5 in 4, instead suggest something like *40 hours split over 5 days

[CloudWalker]

Chat to your Agent but to me It looks like a 9-6 job only pay you 8 hours

[Pondlife]

I would be more concerned with "the Consultant shall provide the required services in order to complete any work allocated by the Client"

You could read MoO, D&C and no RoS in that one statement alone.


Okay, I'm being facetious but it is a horrible sentence IMO.

[TheFaQQer]

Am I right in thinking this means 8 hours of work each day ?

Yes, that's what it says

Am I right in thinking this means I've not got the freedom to do 6 hours one day if I've done 10 hours another and workloads fit into this?

You have the freedom to do that. You don't have the freedom to work six hours and bill for a day, though, since you are contracted to work 8 hours a day. And since you are contracted to work eight hours (not a minimum of eight hours), why would you work ten?

Does having to do 40 hours each week when perms only have to do 35 make you any less of a disguised employee?

No

To have the flexibility I want, I'm tempted to try asking the agency to change it to:
*40 hours per week
or in case they fear that might mean I try doing 5 in 4, instead suggest something like *40 hours split over 5 days

If you want 40 hours a week, then get an hourly paid contract. I wouldn't want that level of detail specified in the contract, to be honest.

[PTP]

Thanks TheFaQQer

[malvolio]

If a number of hours is specified, it's not a Professional Working Day. We're not actually paid to work a number of hours, we're paid to deliver "stuff". Either get them to stick to a true PWD, or make it an hourly contract.

Personally, I'd be at the point of saying "Thanks, but one if us is a professional and I'll decline your kind offer".

[SpontaneousOrder]

If a number of hours is specified, it's not a Professional Working Day.

It's their way of saying :
"9 hours per day minimum, or as long as we want you to stay in the office to finish up - because, after all, you ARE a professional, right?"

And stopping you from saying "I'm going to come in late tomorrow because i was in the office all night last night, being a professional, getting that release of of the door".

I.e, as you say, it's got nothing to do with professionalism :P

[malvolio]

It's their way of saying :
"9 hours per day minimum, or as long as we want you to stay in the office to finish up - because, after all, you ARE a professional, right?"

And stopping you from saying "I'm going to come in late tomorrow because i was in the office all night last night, being a professional, getting that release of of the door".

I.e, as you say, it's got nothing to do with professionalism :P

I work 13 hour days and I work 4 hour days. I manage to hit every deadline with material to the quality that my client requires of me. I book 7.5 hours a day on their project timesheet system because it's the only way SAP allows me to book time but I charge a set amount for each day I do some work for them and I don't charge for any I don't, like today, when I'm stuck waiting for other permie "professionals" to respond to requests for information and/or decisions so I can do my job.

The day they start insisting I do a set number of hours a day is the day I leave.