Comments

[2bFrank]

I had a issue with this in my last contract. The place was miles away from anywhere and always had difficultly with contractors coming in, so they offered a two day a week working from home.

The client requested Mondays and Fridays (as this is the days the PMs, and other contractors worked from home). However there was a fellow contractor, who was more senior, that didnt like it working from home (he lived round the corner, in this tiny village) and in the end requested I come into the office for 5 days a week. This became unworkable, but was determined to stick with it until renewal time, and I would decline the renewal.

pretty much in the last month of the contract, the client cancelled the project as no one was renewing and they simply couldn't get the staff, so they outsource the whole of the project to a development house. It made sense for them to do this in the long run, plus that senior contractor was a c**t so I was very happy to walk away.

If its agreed to WFH from the start then you should be able to WFH, Especially if it was the flexibility that attracted you to the contract, otherwise you may have waiting it out and found a better contract.

[Old Greg]

I had a issue with this in my last contract. The place was miles away from anywhere and always had difficultly with contractors coming in, so they offered a two day a week working from home.

The client requested Mondays and Fridays (as this is the days the PMs, and other contractors worked from home). However there was a fellow contractor, who was more senior, that didnt like it working from home (he lived round the corner, in this tiny village) and in the end requested I come into the office for 5 days a week. This became unworkable, but was determined to stick with it until renewal time, and I would decline the renewal.

pretty much in the last month of the contract, the client cancelled the project as no one was renewing and they simply couldn't get the staff, so they outsource the whole of the project to a development house. It made sense for them to do this in the long run, plus that senior contractor was a c**t so I was very happy to walk away.

If its agreed to WFH from the start then you should be able to WFH, Especially if it was the flexibility that attracted you to the contract, otherwise you may have waiting it out and found a better contract.

And if the client changes there mind, then they can terminate the contract at any point. So you can decide whether to accept the new terms or not. It's only business.

[northernladuk]

Was WFH part of the contract or offered as flexibility. Exactly when was it offered and how? It's pretty key exactly how it was offered.

[LondonManc]

If it's offered verbally, it's worth the paper it was written on

It looks like the game has changed. You have re-evaluate and see if you want to play by the new rules. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face, but do consider moving on at next renewal if there's an opportunity elsewhere. Is the train a viable alternative on Fridays or are you in the middle of nowhere like Barclays in Cheshire?

As for the two contractors poo-pooing WFH; they sound like permatractors - check if they're outside IR35 then throw them to Hector.