Asking client for work ...

[Yonmons]

As a contractor for the last 15 yrs I NEVER chase work when in a role, I am taken on to do a specific task, sometimes its very busy sometimes not, presently I am onsite listening to the Test match, and surfing here Fridays are lazy days for us. GO HOME NEVER ! Do the permies go home when its quiet ? I call it " Contractors Mindset"Dont take holidays when in contract, dont do sick....and that goes for most of the contractors I have worked with over the years.

[MrMarkyMark]

I'm a consultant and the client are paying to have my knowledge on hand. It's often hard for a client to predict when they might need that knowledge and they won't get any if I'm not there to supply it. Maybe I should just sit in their office in a catatonic state until they need my expertise? Maybe you are in a role where effort can be measured by output in which case you *might* have a point.

The point is that the OP shouldn't get down because there is no work to do right now as at some point they'll probably be expecting 110% out of him. He just needs to keep looking busy in the meantime until he is required to jump into action. I certainly wouldn't be advising he goes home as many clients would see that negatively and get someone else more willing in to replace him.

I don't really know how you differentiate yourself by calling yourself a "consultant", you are still a contractor like the rest of us.

Maybe I should just sit in their office in a catatonic state until they need my expertise?

No, you should go home and not bill as you have nothing to do.

Maybe its just me, but I would suggest doing your companies website and admin etc. then billing the client for it is dishonest.
I also hope you are declaring you are inside IR35.

[Bozwell]

But there are still lines to be drawn even as a consultant. They call consultants in to fix problems or deliver to some area they are struggling with. Just to sit there and help them out with whatever pops up they can't deal with isn't really a consultant. It's a useful resource.

I think of it like a retainer. While they are building a 20 strong project team it is unlikely they will have all the people in place on the same day but they don't want to risk losing the people they have already so they start paying them. I'm available if any pre-project tasks come up but I'm not going to sit and do nothing when there isn't. I certainly wasn't the only team member twiddling my thumbs for weeks.

It's history now anyway as I'm in the thick of it and those lazy days are but a distant memory.

[northernladuk]

I think of it like a retainer. While they are building a 20 strong project team it is unlikely they will have all the people in place on the same day but they don't want to risk losing the people they have already so they start paying them. I'm available if any pre-project tasks come up but I'm not going to sit and do nothing when there isn't. I certainly wasn't the only team member twiddling my thumbs for weeks.

It's history now anyway as I'm in the thick of it and those lazy days are but a distant memory.

Doesn't matter what you think of it. It's what HMRC thinks of it and even I don't think this sounds ideal.

[MrMarkyMark]

Its funny, I have contracted for 5 consultancies over the years. Four big ones and one slightly smaller. Normally they have you working like a dog, I certainly don't remember any time sitting idle.

It's what HMRC thinks of it and even I don't think this sounds ideal.

This.

[supersteamer]

Doesn't matter what you think of it. It's what HMRC thinks of it and even I don't think this sounds ideal.

True, but as we well know, what HMRC thinks of it and the practical realities are not always in alignment.

Unless you live next door to your client you can't reasonably go home at the drop of a hat when somebody else's input isn't forthcoming in a timely fashion (or, say, the client has network issues etc). It usually makes much more sense to sit in the office - in a catatonic state if you want - than spend all day roaring up and down the motorway at great expense every time you get a call that whatever you need to progress on your project is now available.

And if you are sitting in somebody's office in a catatonic state, you are not exactly enjoying free time, so it (at least should be) perfectly reasonable to bill them for it, especially if it's their staff causing the delay.

[Boo]

Contractors shouldn't be asking these questions.

And agents shouldn't be answering them.

Boo