I have a contract but no work

[Lucy]

I started a week ago, have had little to do, even though I was required urgently. My manager spends his life in meetings and I have done everything and more that has been asked of me. I bored stiff. I am waiting on him to come back to me on a couple of things, but other than that I'm sat here reading more of CUK than I did when I had no contract.

What should I do ? (try to be nice)

[Mordac]

Tell him you'll be working from home for the forseeable future. I assume the client is one of EAs consulting clients, so they've been asked to provide someone on site but haven't actually got round to sorting out anything for you to do. If you've got nothing to do, you might as well work from home.

[Viktor]

It's normal during the first weeks of a contract...after all, that's the British style of working, wonder why you are so perplexed...

HTH

[Lucy]

Thanks Mordac, I take it you are joking.

I'm really worried about being shown the door if they realise I have absolutely nothing to do.

Hi Viktor, I've missed you and your sig.

[Ardesco]

I wouldn't worry too much. Lots of large companies are desperatly disorganised and it takes them a couple of weeks to realise a contractor has started and to set up the environment for them to do thier job.


I have rarely walked into a contract where everything is ready for me to do my work. And rest assured you will be rushed off your feet in a couple of weeks time when they catch up and realise that the desperate work you were supposed to do is two weeks behind schedule....

[Cliphead]

Don't worry about it, this happens from time to time. I had a 6 month gig with IBM and sat at home for the whole contract. My current contract has a month to run and there is nothing left to do so I surf the net all day & everybody's happy.

[Lucy]

Don't worry about it, this happens from time to time. I had a 6 month gig with IBM and sat at home for the whole contract. My current contract has a month to run and there is nothing left to do so I surf the net all day & everybody's happy.

Maybe I should ask if I can work from home. Make my surfing a bit less obvious.

[Cliphead]

I have to be on site in case of a failure of the new system otherwise I would be at home. No-one here expects me to do anything other than kill time so I'm pretty lucky there.

If you don't want to make your surfing so obvious perhaps you could use a text based browser.

[Lucifer Box]

Lost corporate I was at I didn't get a PC until week 2 and then I didn't get a login ID until week 4. I remember drafting a report using good old fashioned pen and paper. Reminded me of being at school.

[rootsnall]

The ability to look busy while loafing is a key contractor skill and the internet makes it a lot easier than it used to be ! But I'd be wary in a useless disorganised client site, if you show willing and do actually start doing any work you will be bombarded. Keep your head down and send in the invoices would be my advice.