Power cut, sent home.

**cojak** · 7 September 2015, 09:53

Accept it, log every piece of documentation and emails regarding what happened and the subsequent amount of money lost.

Place in your IBOMOA (in business on my own account) folder and reflect that it's a tough life being a contractor..

(No work, no pay...)

**SimonMac** · 7 September 2015, 09:55

Originally posted by Scrag Meister View Post

The other day there was a power outage at ClientCo that facilities could not fix in a timely manner and I was sent home early.

ClientCo would not approve a working day as I had not worked it, but I had attended in good faith and subsequently lost half a days money.

Is this correct? I did attend, started work but there was nothing I could do without power. WFH not an option here.

Ooooh that is a good one, I would imagine for just half a day simply offer to make the hours up to cover the full billable day, I guess it comes down to how good a relationship you have with the client and if you want it to continue

**b0redom** · 7 September 2015, 10:09

What does your contract say?

Mine currently talks about professional working day. If there is no further definition you could quote that at them, but it depends on your relationship with the client.

I've had a similar situation in the past where I arrived back late from a holiday due to a delayed flight. In the end I wrote it off because I couldn't be bothered to fight it and I wanted to keep the client happy.

**VectraMan** · 7 September 2015, 10:35

On a couple of occasions I left clients early because of a power cut, and didn't bill for the hours. Though the client was saying "don't worry about it", and "why should you lose out?", but I did the proper thing. I thought about trying to make up the hours, but decided I CBA'd.

How much did you miss? A bit harsh if you're on a day rate and they don't pay you for the day because you left half an hour early.

**BrilloPad** · 7 September 2015, 10:38

I had a contract where I took a half day. HR insisted I got paid for a full day!

I took a few more half days after that.

HR do way to much to make my life a misery so stuff em.

**MarillionFan** · 7 September 2015, 10:40

Originally posted by Scrag Meister View Post

The other day there was a power outage at ClientCo that facilities could not fix in a timely manner and I was sent home early.

ClientCo would not approve a working day as I had not worked it, but I had attended in good faith and subsequently lost half a days money.

Is this correct? I did attend, started work but there was nothing I could do without power. WFH not an option here.

You working at my place, we had a power cut the other day and sent everyone home?

**northernladuk** · 7 September 2015, 10:52

I don't understand the reference to attending in good faith? I attend because I am required to do so to work, not for good faith. Me getting to the building is my problem. When I am there the contractual work starts... but if it doesn't I go home. The travel has nothing to do with good faith IMO... if that's what you meant.

In a case like this you turn up, can't work you go home without a signed timesheet. That's part of the 'flexibility' of contractors I am afraid.

How many hours are we talking here? If I'd done more than half a day I'd try bill for the half day if they do that. If I worked less I wouldn't bill anything personally.

**LondonManc** · 7 September 2015, 10:57

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

I don't understand the reference to attending in good faith? I attend because I am required to do so to work, not for good faith. Me getting to the building is my problem. When I am there the contractual work starts... but if it doesn't I go home. The travel has nothing to do with good faith IMO... if that's what you meant.

In a case like this you turn up, can't work you go home without a signed timesheet. That's part of the 'flexibility' of contractors I am afraid.

How many hours are we talking here? If I'd done more than half a day I'd try bill for the half day if they do that. If I worked less I wouldn't bill anything personally.

I think by "in good faith" the OP means that he's turned up and made himself available to work so expects to be paid. The OP should bill for the opportunity costs if he has a second contract running. If you cannot prove that you've lost money that you could have made elsewhere because you had someone else to work for then you're getting the square root of nothing. That's why you should always ignore parking tickets from Tesco

**Scrag Meister** · 7 September 2015, 10:59

Was a case of arriving at 7:30 a.m. as usual, power going out just after 8, and being sent home at 11:30 after being told it would be back on soon for 3 + hours.

All the business critical folks were sat in the DR site somewhere out of London.

So I got paid for half a day as that was what I was on site for but ClientCo wouldn't approve the 11:30 - end of day part as I didn't work it cos of their naff FM.

Have written an email to the agent and they are looking into it, obviously not a great deal of money in the bigger picture but why did I lose out because of there inability to fix the issue.

Suck it up Scrag

Power cut, sent home.