Fired and escorted out because I did not accept to be paid less than hours worked

[psychocandy]

I was with a client once. Due to project urgency, the client manager asked me - along with the entire team - to work up to 10:00 PM, almost 13 to 14 hours, each day. Except me, all were permies., and permies got OT. When I filled in the timesheet at the end of the month, the client manager refused to pay anything extra, saying that "You are on a day rate, so we cannot pay more. Even if you have worked for 13 hours, they will be counted as a single day only".

Which in my book is a pisstake. Would be the last time I ever did favours for them like that. In fact, I'd be looking for a new gig.

For something like this, I wouldnt force the extra days payment but would appreciate the good will of a couple of days TOIL for this.

So how long did you work the long days for? Must admit if it was for more than 1 or 2 I'd have been asking before too long.

[psychocandy]

OP - You kicked off about 0.3 of a day? Really? So based on 7.5 hour days, pretty much just over 2 hours of work... WOW.

In the first instance, you should know how it works in your contract. If its 0.5 or 1.0 then its tough, you can't do 0.8.

Should have let it slide for that little. Its nothing. Fair enough - Im the first to say hang on no way if the extra hours get too regular or too long. I will expect client to play fair back and make arrangements but a one-off 2 hours!!!

As you've found out, if you're a contractor the client most times doesn't want grief off you or any hassle whatsoever. They've got enough permies who moan and they need to keep happy. You're an expensive resourve brought in whos supposed to do the job without any of the permie hassle. I can see why the client got rid I'm afraid - they just sort sod that even the contractor is kicking off now he can go.

[northernladuk]

Isn't TOIL a permie thing? I mean... Time Off???

Just call in sick and don't do it.

[WTFH]

At go live in one of my previous clients we had 3 weeks where it was 12-16 hour days, up to 7 days per week.
Client said they would pay extra 1/2 day or full day and told me to invoice them for it, putting down 1.5 days per day (or 2 days per day) on the timesheet.
Agent said no, I was only allowed to invoice for 1 day and it was tough luck to me.
Spoke to the client and in the end I invoiced them for a few weekends after, but also invoiced them for a week while I was not working for them. All with the client's blessing and without the agent being able to screw me over (yes, they were prepared to lose commission on their side just to make them feel more powerful over me).


As for the OP, if you're on a daily rate you invoice for a full day (or if the client allows it, half a day). You do not invoice for 1/10th of a day when you are on a daily rate. You certainly wouldn't invoice for 2 hours work. You'd suck it up, or if you're really workshy, take it off another day. Maybe take a long lunch, or take up smoking so you do an hour less work per day than healthy people.

[SimonMac]

Isn't TOIL a permie thing? I mean... Time Off???

Just call in sick and don't do it.

TOIL is, but flexibility is a cornerstone for me as a contractor

[northernladuk]

TOIL is, but flexibility is a cornerstone for me as a contractor

Correct. It was purely the terminology and mindset I was pointing out.

[MrMarkyMark]

At go live in one of my previous clients we had 3 weeks where it was 12-16 hour days, up to 7 days per week.
Client said they would pay extra 1/2 day or full day and told me to invoice them for it, putting down 1.5 days per day (or 2 days per day) on the timesheet.
Agent said no, I was only allowed to invoice for 1 day and it was tough luck to me.
Spoke to the client and in the end I invoiced them for a few weekends after, but also invoiced them for a week while I was not working for them. All with the client's blessing and without the agent being able to screw me over (yes, they were prepared to lose commission on their side just to make them feel more powerful over me).


As for the OP, if you're on a daily rate you invoice for a full day (or if the client allows it, half a day). You do not invoice for 1/10th of a day when you are on a daily rate. You certainly wouldn't invoice for 2 hours work. You'd suck it up, or if you're really workshy, take it off another day. Maybe take a long lunch, or take up smoking so you do an hour less work per day than healthy people.

Regardless of what PC says, being flexible can work out to be very profitable.
Ended up with an offered £50 PD bump up on extension once, plus stupid money, at weekends. Purely for helping the client out through a difficult time.
Unwilling guys were let go, prior, not everyone tries to screw you over.

[psychocandy]

TOIL is, but flexibility is a cornerstone for me as a contractor

EXACTLY. Client has fixed budget so no money for weekend work or more than 5 days per week. Something needs to be done at the weekend. Choices are:-

1) Do it for free.
2) Tell client sod off pay me or do one.
3) Agree to do work but then take a day next week but still still bill for.

1) Nope. 2) Not clever, 3) Not ideal but everyones happy.

[Bozwell]

OP, this company isn't your employer it is your CUSTOMER! It is your responsibility as a supplier of services to make sure of the contracted agreement between yourself and your customer (even via a third party). You run a business now, so act like it. You have a bad attitude IMO.

Personally I like to work flexibly with my client where possible. Some days I do 10 hours and others I do 6 but the work gets done, the client is happy and my company gets paid which is all the really matters at the end of the day. In the OPs situation he should have chalked it up as a learning experience and make sure he didn't get caught out by it in the future. Tanking a whole contract over a few hours pay doesn't look like good business sense to me!

[LondonManc]

EXACTLY. Client has fixed budget so no money for weekend work or more than 5 days per week. Something needs to be done at the weekend. Choices are:-

1) Do it for free.
2) Tell client sod off pay me or do one.
3) Agree to do work but then take a day next week but still still bill for.

1) Nope. 2) Not clever, 3) Not ideal but everyones happy.

1) Depends. Can be seen as good business to do this. Go an extra mile and you get an extra 3 months.