3 Week Christmas / NY Contractor Freeze

[SlipTheJab]

So far this year I've willingly had 64 days off excluding bank holidays. I've also got at least another 9 (excluding the 3 bank holidays) to go...

Now thats just Lazy

[radish2008]

But you also have to reset your expectations. If you think a 12 month contract is 12 months then you are going to be constantly disappointed. You are going to take time of and there are bank holidays. Subtract what you'd normally take off and the picture doesn't look quite so bleak.

I don't expect to work 12 months of course - the contract I signed had a core leave segment and that is all - then it went to 20 days with 10 together as core leave, now it has gone to 40 days including BHs.

[radish2008]

Now thats just Lazy

And admirable :-)

[BlasterBates]

[Scrooge2017]

Hi Everyone, thank for the responses. I raised it in a catch up meeting with the client today and they have agreed to a local agreement which I think will equate to around a week off. Great news for me and a load off my mind financially.

[westtester]

I thought the two week Xmas 'furlough' was pretty standard at most places now? When I was at Lloyds a few years back, they mooted an enforced two week summer break (to be taken during a 2 month window) as well as extending the usual Xmas break to 3 weeks. None of it came to pass as they couldn't afford to be without the resource.

[psychocandy]

As others have said fairly common.

I quite like it to be honest. Forces me to take time off. Takes the decison away from me.... So I wont sit there thinking "grr im losing money this week". BUt like others I take more leave than a permie.....

I find those contractors who never take a day off get frowned upon as money grabbers. I remember one PM telling me they budgeted for a year and assumed a guy would take normal hols.

Only time I ever took issue once was when client enforced even though they had a major bit of work on. When we came back in jan the project manager said we were behind now because of the break and we all had to "step up and put the effort in to catch up". i.e. work longer hours. I took issue with this.

Fair enough if it works for your business to tell contractors not to be there then fair enough. But live with the circumstances and dont expect freebies to take account.

[radish2008]

As others have said fairly common.

I quite like it to be honest. Forces me to take time off. Takes the decison away from me.... So I wont sit there thinking "grr im losing money this week". BUt like others I take more leave than a permie.....

I find those contractors who never take a day off get frowned upon as money grabbers. I remember one PM telling me they budgeted for a year and assumed a guy would take normal hols.

Only time I ever took issue once was when client enforced even though they had a major bit of work on. When we came back in jan the project manager said we were behind now because of the break and we all had to "step up and put the effort in to catch up". i.e. work longer hours. I took issue with this.

Fair enough if it works for your business to tell contractors not to be there then fair enough. But live with the circumstances and dont expect freebies to take account.

I don't mind taking 20 days off - an increase to 32 for me is a bit too far - it's ok if your rate supports it but if it doesn't then it has to be an issue. For my situation I'll have a chat with them and go from there.

[tractor123]

It can be annoying but I think it's normal these days.

My client's company closes for 2 weeks on Christmas, so not many options here. My partner is a permie, forced to use holidays or take unpaid days for 3 weeks over Christmas... looks like we will have plenty of time to catch up

[BackupBoy]

All the contractors at my current client have just been asked for their availability over Christmas and New Year ...

Nobody's very keen.