Holiday request

[Paralytic]

Risky move. Refusing a substitute will throw the contract undisputably inside-IR35.

No it won't. A client could have a number of valid reasons for rejecting a substitution that would not impact IR35. Indeed, I'd say a client taking the time to even consider a replacement is an indicator that substitution would be possible.

Obviously, if you expect the client to respond with "we'd never entertain a substitution", then don't ask.

[psychocandy]

They said "You need to start straight away". I said "I've got a week's holiday all paid for. Is that alright?".

They said "No".

I thought to myself "Am I a man or a mouse?!"

And squeaked "OK"

Those were the days. Contractors knew their place.

Ha ha they wouldn't wait a week? Nuts mun.

Bet you sat there for a week with no login?

[jk3838]

Did you offer to invoke the substitution clause in your contract and send in a replacement?

Send in your sub to go on the holiday ?

Or, you could carry on for a while without mentioning the holiday again (while we all get through this tulip storm in April), gives you more time to show them how great you are, then a month or so before the holiday, explain your mrs simply won't agree to you not going with as you'd hoped, and do a deal to do extra hours pre and after the holiday to make up the time you'll be out (I've done this in the past, when on hourly), or offer to add the missing holiday time on the end

If they are 'good staff' as your OP says, they'll work with you surely, and if they won't, you'll have done most of the gig anyway, and do you really want to be somewhere where you can't take any time off unless they say it's ok ?

I'd keep my powder dry for a bit

[Cirrus]

Never moans. Never laughs. Never cries. Never flinches.

Bet you sat there for a week with no login?

It's not the point.

The point is if you ever think you have any self-respect whatsoever then you are not a proper contractor. A contractor is someone who takes whatever tulip is thrown at them and never flinches.

The only valid sense of self, is invoice-shaped.

[KinooOrKinog]

It's not the point.

The point is if you ever think you have any self-respect whatsoever then you are not a proper contractor. A contractor is someone who takes whatever tulip is thrown at them and never flinches.

The only valid sense of self, is invoice-shaped.

Speak for yourself! Most of us aren't doormats.

[eek]

Speak for yourself! Most of us aren't doormats.

+1 - treat me badly and I will walk away.

And the last consultancy who treated me badly has discovered that I have far more influence in the market than they had - as their 15 month long continuing hunt for a second Solution Architect demonstrates.

[ladymuck]

+1 - treat me badly and I will walk away.

And the last consultancy who treated me badly has discovered that I have far more influence in the market than they had - as their 15 month long continuing hunt for a second Solution Architect demonstrates.

Cool story bro

[NotAllThere]

They said "You need to start straight away". I said "I've got a week's holiday all paid for. Is that alright?".

They said "No".

I thought to myself "Am I a man or a mouse?!"

And squeaked "OK"

Those were the days. Contractors knew their place.

The highlighted bit is where you made your mistake. The correct phrasing is "so I won't be available on this date". or "so I will have to start on...".

From the point you asked if it was alright, and definitely when you squeaked, then they knew they'd got a resource they could abuse.

[PerfectStorm]

Without trying to sound like the forum troll, you have to make all holidays a 'tell' rather than an 'ask' from the off

I usually put out an email saying "Please kindly note I will be unavailable on these days"

Quite often they'll come back with "Approved." but I let that slide

There are few upsides to being a contractor - take this one.

[PerfectStorm]

Ha ha they wouldn't wait a week? Nuts mun.

Bet you sat there for a week with no login?

Oh god I know this! I told a client to hold their horses for a couple weeks once (I was having a terrible time and needed a holiday first).

Client not happy, but accepted.

Got there 2 weeks later, standard story. No logon, no laptop, mailbox not set up properly, no drive access...