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Client Dictating Hours of Work

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  • jmo21
    replied
    While it just might be the manager being stupid or a control freak, it might also be coming from above her head, or complaints from permies who do not realise you start earlier.

    In other words, lots of stupid reasons.

    I'm in a place in life where I wouldn't worry about it. If someone tried to bring me in to their stupid bulltulip, I'd tell them straight, I am completing my work, I am doing the hours, and if you don't like when I do them, then I will hand in my notice.

    Having "core" hours of availability makes sense, so if you try to work 5am til 1pm or something daft, then it isn't going to work.

    Leave a comment:


  • ziggystardust
    replied
    Originally posted by WordIsBond View Post
    Third choice, I suppose, is to refer to your contract and if it doesn't specify working hours, make a point of that and see if she'll back down. Have to be prepared to be dismissed, though.

    Hours dictated is only one indicator of SDC, of course. "When" and "where" you work is reportedly not as important as "how" you work. But IR35 is only one aspect of this -- what works for you and your family is obviously more important. If it is a relatively short contract, maybe you can put up with it? But if it is a relatively short contract, maybe it wouldn't be much of a loss to walk away, either.
    I don't have kids but I do have other family priorities although I really don't feel why I should have to explain what those are to justify working in accordance with the terms of my contract and the fact that I am in fact supplying services and not an employee.

    Leave a comment:


  • northernladuk
    replied
    Direction and control. It's one of the three main pillars of IR35. I suggest your get some reading done if you are not aware of that. You need to know about MoO and RoS at the very least.

    Leave a comment:


  • ziggystardust
    replied
    Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
    Are there hours stated in your contract? Sounds like a D&C nightmare with a bit of a cock womble client manager thrown in. You've two choices here. Hand your notice in and leave. Stay, do what you are told and sweat about your IR35 status for the next few years.

    I know what I'd be doing.
    What does D&C stand for? The hours of work are not stated in my contract but it just states 7 and a half hours is classed as a professional working day and 37 and a half hours as a standard working week. .A half day is stated as 3.75 hours

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  • SueEllen
    replied
    1. I too like to start early and leave early to avoid a nasty commute. Therefore before I take any contract I ask the interviewer about the working hours and then tell them this. If they are adamant that I have to work at particular times I don't take the contract.

    2. Sometimes I have felt some permies have commented about my working hours, therefore I am aware a client manager has come in early for a few days to check them. On the vast majority of occasions they have found that I've actually come in between 15-30 minutes early than I report unless it's half term/school holidays were it can be up to 40 minutes. This is because commuting conditions vary. I also have a habit of wasting 10 minutes checking messages or doing online shopping before I start work. I also like to be able to take and make phone calls during the week in private without anyone commenting on my working hours.

    In your case I think your client manager is too lazy to do 2.

    Therefore if you did 1 at interview, you need to talk to other client managers who are her peers delicately about the situation and give a good reason for doing it. (I had a client manager who was told by her peers to shut up when she complained about the fact I was allowed to work from home.) If this doesn't work or she has no equivalent peers then you need to suck it up. You only have to do this until you are offered an extension which you turn down or until you find another contract and leave. When you leave make it very clear what the reason for this is and point out their attitude isn't very family friendly.

    If you didn't do 1 then you need to stop complaining and suck it up.
    People are not mind readers and if you like doing things a certain way you need to explain it to them at the earliest possibility in case it causes a problem.
    Last edited by SueEllen; 20 February 2016, 14:10.

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  • Boney M
    replied
    Pretty standard and cannot see what you are moaning for personally. If it was the way you wanted none of us would take lunch and wed start at 7 and **** off at 3.30.

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  • clearedforlanding
    replied
    If she is also a contractor, perhaps a quiet word about D&C et IR35 might be in order. Perhaps she needs educating. Ask her to come on here and ask NLUK about it, but don't tell her about the stickie.

    Leave a comment:


  • northernladuk
    replied
    Indeed but if shes gonna be so anal about 30 mins Id hate to think what else is going on.

    Leave a comment:


  • WordIsBond
    replied
    Third choice, I suppose, is to refer to your contract and if it doesn't specify working hours, make a point of that and see if she'll back down. Have to be prepared to be dismissed, though.

    Hours dictated is only one indicator of SDC, of course. "When" and "where" you work is reportedly not as important as "how" you work. But IR35 is only one aspect of this -- what works for you and your family is obviously more important. If it is a relatively short contract, maybe you can put up with it? But if it is a relatively short contract, maybe it wouldn't be much of a loss to walk away, either.

    Leave a comment:


  • northernladuk
    replied
    Are there hours stated in your contract? Sounds like a D&C nightmare with a bit of a cock womble client manager thrown in. You've two choices here. Hand your notice in and leave. Stay, do what you are told and sweat about your IR35 status for the next few years.

    I know what I'd be doing.

    Leave a comment:

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