Taking time out from contract

[Contreras]

"I won't be in for the next few days - to allow the rest of the team to catch up. You have my number if needed."

[WTFH]

I'm also talking to another client where I might need to go into there office once or twice a fortnight which would mean further time away.

Can I just check here, you've got a contract which is 5 days a week but you are talking to another client about another contract that would mean you working a 4 day week?


If I was the client you are currently contracted to, I'd be considering whether I wanted to keep you on!


You have the "right" to go after as much work as you want, as long as you can fulfil the duties expected of you by the contract you are currently in, within the times defined by the contract and expected by the client.
So, if that client's normal office hours are 9-5 M-F, then for you to say 'I'll work from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesdays and I'll do three hours on a Saturday' means that you are not available during their normal office hours.


What is your current relationship like with the client you are contracted to?


You would need to have agreement from them and your agent if you're going to start working elsewhere, and while it might get you extra cash now and make HMRC look on you more positively, it probably isn't a good long-term plan, in my opinion.

[northernladuk]

"I won't be in for the next few days - to allow the rest of the team to catch up. You have my number if needed."

Indeed but...

I anticipate it being around 2, maybe 3 weeks

[cityben]

Can I just check here, you've got a contract which is 5 days a week but you are talking to another client about another contract that would mean you working a 4 day week?


If I was the client you are currently contracted to, I'd be considering whether I wanted to keep you on!


You have the "right" to go after as much work as you want, as long as you can fulfil the duties expected of you by the contract you are currently in, within the times defined by the contract and expected by the client.
So, if that client's normal office hours are 9-5 M-F, then for you to say 'I'll work from 4pm to 10pm on Tuesdays and I'll do three hours on a Saturday' means that you are not available during their normal office hours.


What is your current relationship like with the client you are contracted to?


You would need to have agreement from them and your agent if you're going to start working elsewhere, and while it might get you extra cash now and make HMRC look on you more positively, it probably isn't a good long-term plan, in my opinion.

No, sorry maybe I didn't explain well. I meant to go in to the other other client 1 day a week or 1 day every 2 weeks. I wouldn't be doing all of this at once anyway. If I get a big project, I'd focus on that. Then back to contract gig

[WordIsBond]

Are you a professional, or are you just trying to take advantage of someone? If you are a professional, you'll make sure you don't jeopardise your ability to deliver what you've contracted to do.

Are you running a business, or are you just a disguised employee? If you are a disguised employee, this isn't on. If you are running a business, you'll be looking for other business opportunities, and take advantage of them as you are able. What is meant by "as you are able" depends on how professional you are, and what your client's needs are.

If you can take advantage of this other opportunity, and still be a professional with your existing client, fill your boots. If you can't, you have to let it go.

There's no way anyone on the Internet can answer the question for you. And you may not be able to answer it without talking honestly and directly to your client. But those are the questions you have to answer. If you don't have a B2B relationship and your client sees you as basically an employee, and you are willing to work within that parameter, you don't do this. Even if that isn't the case, if this will keep you from providing the professional service you've contracted for, you don't do this. Otherwise, if you want the extra work and money, go for it.

[cityben]

Are you a professional, or are you just trying to take advantage of someone? If you are a professional, you'll make sure you don't jeopardise your ability to deliver what you've contracted to do.

Are you running a business, or are you just a disguised employee? If you are a disguised employee, this isn't on. If you are running a business, you'll be looking for other business opportunities, and take advantage of them as you are able. What is meant by "as you are able" depends on how professional you are, and what your client's needs are.

If you can take advantage of this other opportunity, and still be a professional with your existing client, fill your boots. If you can't, you have to let it go.

There's no way anyone on the Internet can answer the question for you. And you may not be able to answer it without talking honestly and directly to your client. But those are the questions you have to answer. If you don't have a B2B relationship and your client sees you as basically an employee, and you are willing to work within that parameter, you don't do this. Even if that isn't the case, if this will keep you from providing the professional service you've contracted for, you don't do this. Otherwise, if you want the extra work and money, go for it.

I am definitely professional and looking to do the right and best thing professionally.

I appreciate nobody is or can give me the answer and it's something I need to come to by myself, I was just canvassing for some of you guys who are more experienced and everyone's advice and opinion is appreciated, so thank you.

[WordIsBond]

I am definitely professional and looking to do the right and best thing professionally.

That was what I thought when I read your initial post.

FWIW, I'm responding more from my experience in management than as a consultant. I'd have wanted someone in your position to come talk to me. If I needed him to be full-time, I'd have said so and expected him to stick with that. If I didn't need full-time, I'd have been very happy with this as long as the work was getting done.

If I had to pay a contractor to be there all the time so he could be there the 80% of the time I needed him to get the job done, I'd do it. But if he could have found a way to take himself off my books for that other 20% of the time, good for him and for me -- as long as he got the work done that I needed. And some might not be flexible, but I would have been as flexible as I could to work with someone in that situation.

Unless this is already addressed (one way or other) in your contract, or unless there are other dynamics involved, it is often best to talk to your client. "I've had this offer, but my contract is with you, is this compatible with your needs or should I give it a miss?" That's what I would have wanted to here. I wouldn't have wanted a guy to just not be turning up and not knowing what his schedule / availability was, or if he would be there when I wanted him. I'd have wanted open and respectful communication.

[unixman]

Hi OP, taking 3 weeks out to spend with another client doesn't seem to be compatible with the clause in your existing contract in which you agree to be on the client site 37.5 hours a week.

On the other hand, 2 or 3 weeks is the sort of time people take out for their summer holidays. You could therefore take a 2 week "holiday" break from client 1 and spend it working with client 2. But client 1 would treat it as your holiday time, and you could not then reasonably take much additional time for an actual holiday.

How much "leave of absence" clients find it acceptable for contractors to take is an interesting question. Clients might be happy for contractors to take longer holidays than permies, because it saves them money. For this reason, my current client mandates all contractors take 2 weeks off over Christmas/New Year.

I would say take a few days off client 1 to work with client 2 ("leave of absence"). Any more than that, talk to your client about it, but don't mention that stuff about not being busy. Don't forward that as a reason.

[Underbase]

Hi OP, taking 3 weeks out to spend with another client doesn't seem to be compatible with the clause in your existing contract in which you agree to be on the client site 37.5 hours a week.

On the other hand, 2 or 3 weeks is the sort of time people take out for their summer holidays. You could therefore take a 2 week "holiday" break from client 1 and spend it working with client 2. But client 1 would treat it as your holiday time, and you could not then reasonably take much additional time for an actual holiday.

How much "leave of absence" clients find it acceptable for contractors to take is an interesting question. Clients might be happy for contractors to take longer holidays than permies, because it saves them money. For this reason, my current client mandates all contractors take 2 weeks off over Christmas/New Year.

I would say take a few days off client 1 to work with client 2 ("leave of absence"). Any more than that, talk to your client about it, but don't mention that stuff about not being busy. Don't forward that as a reason.

It is interesting as from the Permi side managing contractors I actually had a limit by the Bank policy to have a maximum number of days per year a contractor could work, otherwise it was considered "more than 1 contractor". It was mostly due to the way a contractor was budgeted for.