Client late authorising electronic timesheet - what should I do?

[NotAllThere]

It is not that I am desperate for the money, I just want to be paid weekly as per my contract.

If every payment is two weeks late, then after two weeks you will be being paid weekly. Your contract isn't with the client. I don't think you've any leverage here.

[achilles]

Yes. Occasionally, permies/managers act like they are doing you a massive favour by signing your timesheet. Or they make related jokes, openly, about sign off. They are unaware of how wholly inappropriate their attitude is. If their employer didn't pay them one month, they would fly into a fury and threaten to call in the SAS. Just smile and have a quiet word with the agent. I wouldn't mention terminating or walking out in the first conversation though. These are alarm words to agents.

This is the situation I am in. The permie in question thinks I should be his friend and do things useful to him in order to sign off my timesheet on time. But he is not my line manager and I have to do what my line manager wants me to do.

[Contreras]

In the past I always used a manual timesheet where I would take it to the manager and get him to sign it there and then ...

... and there's nothing to stop you doing that as well.

In fact, it's what I have done when faced with electronic timesheets. My template has no company heading or logo, or excessive/threatening legal jargon, and I present it as a formality. It's flattering to the middle manager's ego to be asked and signing is rewarded with a display of worshipgratitude. The rather bland form is simply headed "Service Timesheet", then a table of dates, hours/days, and this:

Consultant: I certify that the time recorded above is an accurate record of services provided under contract by <MyCo>.
Signed: ........................ Date:..............

Client Manager: I certify that the time recorded above is an accurate record of the services provided to <ClientCo>.
Signed: ........................ Date:..............

[MrMarkyMark]

Yes. Occasionally, permies/managers act like they are doing you a massive favour by signing your timesheet. Or they make related jokes, openly, about sign off. They are unaware of how wholly inappropriate their attitude is. If their employer didn't pay them one month, they would fly into a fury and threaten to call in the SAS. Just smile and have a quiet word with the agent. I wouldn't mention terminating or walking out in the first conversation though. These are alarm words to agents.

This +1

Unfortunately, for some little men, the power of the time sheet auth goes to the head

[SueEllen]

This is the situation I am in. The permie in question thinks I should be his friend and do things useful to him in order to sign off my timesheet on time. But he is not my line manager and I have to do what my line manager wants me to do.

Well have a talk with your agent.

The agent won't want you on site if they aren't getting paid.

First imply that you think the delay is due to finance problems and ask them to check. Then say if it's not can you have another authoriser as obviously the person doing it doesn't have the time to do it by the deadline.

[SueEllen]

If every payment is two weeks late, then after two weeks you will be being paid weekly. Your contract isn't with the client. I don't think you've any leverage here.

It doesn't actually work like that in practise.

As the guy is an a-hole he will be authorising them when he feels like.

[MrMarkyMark]

I had one guy that was so bad, I used to yell at him, over the other side of the room, "Have you done my time sheet Mark, I don't want to paid late again".

Obviously, this guy was a total bell end and a bully, in general, he couldn't criticise my work, so decided to be a pain with the time sheet.

In the end, on the sly, I got his direct report to get set up and he did it, every week, on time.

[uk contractor]

Welcome to contracting this happens all the time its rare to be paid weekly nowadays. Happened to me many times back in the days when weekly was the norm. Some clients would refuse to sign when I asked & make me wait longer just to show who is boss!

As others have said sometimes its the perm power trip other times its perhaps they do not want you onsite & resent signing your timesheet especially if they find out how much your earning that rubs perms up the wrong way more than you could ever know!

I would be cautious about making waves on this as well you can make the situation way worse if they are not signing it on time for a petty reason if the agency (who will most likely not do anything anyway as they do not want to upset the client) starts chasing it could all end badly for you.

Bar humbug!!

[northernladuk]

Oh dear ... you have other problems, like no expenses ... Northern Lad will be along in a moment to explain ...

Lol.. I think this is the tip of the iceberg so no idea where to start. I did wonder which is why I pointed out him 'stressing'and now being 'desperate'. As I say it's a pain in the arse and needs dealing with but it's not the worst thing that can (and possibly is) happening.

[SimonMac]

If every payment is two weeks late, then after two weeks you will be being paid weekly. Your contract isn't with the client. I don't think you've any leverage here.

But one of the conditions of his contract with the agency is that he has a signed timesheet from the Client.

If the agent wasn't paying what would you do, you would speak to them so why not speak to the authoriser

A gentle reminder always helps, send a email saying I have submitted my timesheet on the system for your approval, odds are the system will give automated updates which are ignored.