Forced holiday over Xmas

[acnm]

I've had an odd time on my new contract and my latest news has me looking elsewhere earlier than planned.

I have a contract which started back in August with a very well known company. The contract I was leaving had a short notice period but I knew they would be in a difficult spot if I just left at short notice so I wanted to give them more time to find an alternative. My new company though were adamant that I start as soon as possible and suggested that were I not to do so the offer would be revoked. So I handed in my notice, signed a new contract and left on the friday only to receive a call the same evening to say that they wouldn't be ready for me for another week. The result being that I took an unplanned week off unpaid.
Not nice as it was so last minute. They did however say that the new contract would be extended by a week to compensate.

Roll forward to now and I'm preparing for Xmas and am now told that I am not permitted to work over the Xmas and new year period. While the company doesn't close down they have an unwritten rule that non essential staff are obligated to take 2 weeks off. Contractors fall into this category.

So I am now faced with taking time off unpaid without wanting to do so. None of this is stipulated in my contract.
Could I, or should I, try to claim any payment for my time?

[cojak]

I've had an odd time on my new contract and my latest news has me looking elsewhere earlier than planned.

I have a contract which started back in August with a very well known company. The contract I was leaving had a short notice period but I knew they would be in a difficult spot if I just left at short notice so I wanted to give them more time to find an alternative. My new company though were adamant that I start as soon as possible and suggested that were I not to do so the offer would be revoked. So I handed in my notice, signed a new contract and left on the friday only to receive a call the same evening to say that they wouldn't be ready for me for another week. The result being that I took an unplanned week off unpaid.
Not nice as it was so last minute. They did however say that the new contract would be extended by a week to compensate.

Roll forward to now and I'm preparing for Xmas and am now told that I am not permitted to work over the Xmas and new year period. While the company doesn't close down they have an unwritten rule that non essential staff are obligated to take 2 weeks off. Contractors fall into this category.

So I am now faced with taking time off unpaid without wanting to do so. None of this is stipulated in my contract.
Could I, or should I, try to claim any payment for my time?

This isn't unusual and I'm surprised that you haven't come across this before.

Search under "contractor furlough". Basically they don't want you in as a cost-saving exercise; you can try to claim but be prepared for them to terminate your contract before Christmas in response...

[TheFaQQer]

Could I, or should I, try to claim any payment for my time?

No you can't, so no you shouldn't.

[cherhill]

I've had an odd time on my new contract and my latest news has me looking elsewhere earlier than planned.

I have a contract which started back in August with a very well known company. The contract I was leaving had a short notice period but I knew they would be in a difficult spot if I just left at short notice so I wanted to give them more time to find an alternative. My new company though were adamant that I start as soon as possible and suggested that were I not to do so the offer would be revoked. So I handed in my notice, signed a new contract and left on the friday only to receive a call the same evening to say that they wouldn't be ready for me for another week. The result being that I took an unplanned week off unpaid.
Not nice as it was so last minute. They did however say that the new contract would be extended by a week to compensate.

Roll forward to now and I'm preparing for Xmas and am now told that I am not permitted to work over the Xmas and new year period. While the company doesn't close down they have an unwritten rule that non essential staff are obligated to take 2 weeks off. Contractors fall into this category.

So I am now faced with taking time off unpaid without wanting to do so. None of this is stipulated in my contract.
Could I, or should I, try to claim any payment for my time?

This has just happened to me in my current contract. Only second time I have been told I cannot work over Xmas in 16 years of contracting.

As already stated not much you can do about it if you want to stay working there.

[Batcher]

It's common in the banks and one of the reasons is so that any illegal activity might be uncovered if you are not at work. Biggest reason is to save money during a quiet time though. Best thing is to enjoy the time off in the lead up to Christmas and New Year.

On the point of you leaving your old contract early, was it the client that told you they needed you early or the agent? My guess is:....the agent

One tried it on with me because the sooner you start the sooner they get their commission. He wanted me to leave a fortnight sooner but I knew that I would end up two weeks worse off at the end of my new contract. I told him I would contact the client and explain that I needed to finish off the knowledge transfer at my old contract before moving on. Of course, the agent was horrified because the client wasn't insisting on me starting earlier, it was just agent bulltulip as usual.

[JRCT]

As a contractor, you don't get holiday, of course. Unless they're forcing you to stay for 2 weeks in Rhyl.

I've had contracts at Lloyds, Barclays and RBS that have all insisted on this. It's not unusual.

As previously mentioned, it's mainly for fraud prevention. ie. if you're doing something dodgy then it should be discovered if you're forced to hand over for 2 weeks (in theory). This 2 week rule applies to all permanent staff too. Not at year end of course, but they all have to take one solid break of two weeks from their annual leave allowance.


The first time it happened to me, I could have applied for exemption because the project deadline was actually end of December. But when I factored in half day Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, half day NYE, New Year's Day and Jan 2nd (Bank Holiday in Scotland) we were only talking about 3 days or so. So, not really that big a deal

[Dallas]

Normal for the non-essentials.

If you want to be essential move into audit and risk, you'll get exceptions for everything

Then take 2 weeks somewhere hot end of jan when the miserable munters are back.

[NotAllThere]

...
On the point of you leaving your old contract early, was it the client that told you they needed you early or the agent? My guess is:....the agent ...

Even if it's the client, I still wouldn't respond to that kind of ultimatum, on the grounds that if they're going to be arsey at the start of the contract, how will they be during?

[tarbera]

Forced holiday over Xmas

I hear on the grapevine RBS will be forcing ALL contractors to take from the 12th December till the 5th Jan this year

!!!!

[Dallas]

I hear in the grapevine RBS will be forcing ALL contractors to take from the 12th December till the 5th Jan this year

!!!!

They will all be doing it, its normal now - no point starting rumours.