Need advise please

**northernladuk** · 12 October 2015, 08:04

It's ADVICE you are after.

Personally a month isn't long enough for me to go asking for flexibility but that's my personal opinion only. What's the culture like in the office? Do other contractors get to work from home, do permies do it quite a lot or is it by exception? If you've been there a month you should have a handle on your line manager and his opinions on contractors working from home. You've not given us a bean of information to give an informed opinion on I am afraid so it's back to you to decide.

What are you going to do if he says no? He's well within his right to do so as getting to the office is your business and you knew the situation when you signed up.

**Contractpf** · 12 October 2015, 08:27

Thank you for your response. I work in a very small company. There are only two contractors my boss and myself. He's fairly relaxed. Some of the premise are on part time roles. You are right I have to think about my options if he says no

**northernladuk** · 12 October 2015, 08:47

Surely your options are to suck it up. Bailing your first gig because of circumstances you were aware of from the start is very poor form.

Listening to that setup do they even have remote working capability technology and process wise.

**psychocandy** · 12 October 2015, 09:33

Dont think the OP mentioned bailing? If its an issue then OP is quite within his rights to not renew when the time comes.... I'd do the same. If I gig miles away and, for some reason, the travel/hours or whatever didnt work for me I'd not renew.

Bu NLUK is correct. The client isnt really bothered how you get there or whether its convenient.

I start every gig on the assumption that its going to be 5 days per week on site and they're not going to be flexible on hours. If you then get flex on hours then its a bonus - more if they let you wfh.

Agree with nluk - a month is a bit too early for them to know you and trust you wfh.

If it was me, I'd wait another month and then ask. Sounds like you might be OK but you may be putting the guy on the spot after just one month. He might be thinking well yes maybe but I don't really know the fella.

Then again some places are just dead against WFH ever. Never going to happen. Unfortunately, despite being a great gig otherwise my current one is like this.

**northernladuk** · 12 October 2015, 09:44

Originally posted by psychocandy View Post

Dont think the OP mentioned bailing?

No but it's one the options available to him and I assumed it would a thought if his line manager says no so wanted to head that one off. He also says in his reply he has to think of other options which would indicate bailing is a distinct possibly.

**NotAllThere** · 12 October 2015, 09:48

There's no harm in asking. The idea that working remotely is some kind of perk or privilege is thoroughly outdated. I've been doing it off and on since 1996 (14K modem!), often from day one. (On one of my current contracts, I've been in office maybe ten days in four years). Personally, I'd talk to the client first. Going through the agent might technically be correct, but sounds to me a little like getting your mum to ask for you.

If you get turned down, then you just say - "OK, thought I'd ask. No problem."

Alternatives are
1. Buy a cheap used car - bangernomics
2. Stay in a B&B a few nights - reduces the amount of stressful travelling and might even work out cheaper

**MrMarkyMark** · 12 October 2015, 10:10

You should take this as a useful bit of experience, before agreeing to take the contract, mentally agree to do the travelling time.

I spent 3 years doing an hour and three quarters each way, would I do it again?

No I wouldn't.

The fact that you are going to consider your options, after a month in, if refused, is a poor show IMO.
You should go in with your eyes wide open.
In fact you should have negotiated WFH, from the outset, prior to signing the contract.

**MarillionFan** · 12 October 2015, 10:35

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Surely your options are to suck it up. Bailing your first gig because of circumstances you were aware of from the start is very poor form.

Listening to that setup do they even have remote working capability technology and process wise.

Sorry don't agree with view. Nothing wrong with asking, the manager can always say no, but they may say yes.

Easiest thing would be to drop it into to a conversation with your manager, by saying how difficult it is on Monday/Tuesdays, then just slip in a piece about flexible working. That's all you have to do, the seed is sown and you'll either get a definitive no straight away or you've got an opening to have a proper conversation about it later.

**northernladuk** · 12 October 2015, 10:53

Originally posted by MarillionFan View Post

Sorry don't agree with view. Nothing wrong with asking, the manager can always say no, but they may say yes.

Easiest thing would be to drop it into to a conversation with your manager, by saying how difficult it is on Monday/Tuesdays, then just slip in a piece about flexible working. That's all you have to do, the seed is sown and you'll either get a definitive no straight away or you've got an opening to have a proper conversation about it later.

Just to be clear the response you quoted was his options if the manager said no but that aside...

We'll have to disagree on this one then. IMO each instance has it's own nuances and it's up to the contractor to think about these to maximise his chances and not get his card marked. A few years ago I might have agreed but I've been in two gigs recently where home working by contractors is frowned upon and waltzing up asking for or expecting home working from the off isn't the best move. In both case home working for contractors was available but it was by exception only. In both cases it was down to a pretty poor management style of the line managers and not by company policy. In the latest one I am thinking off our bank of desks were by exception but the delivery team in the next set of rows had pretty much free reign which is highly annoying and not management in this day and age.

The line managers views was pretty apparent from day one so it was fairly obvious that delivering hard for a good period first was the only way to get that exception and asking right from the off probably meant you weren't going to get it later whatever you did.

It's all about managing the situation and the people involved. It's not really a one size fits all so I just personally aim to deliver first and then pop the question when there is no doubting my ability to deliver.

As I said that was in my personal opinion. Your view is valid and your way of dealing with it which is fair enough.

Need advise please