Holiday request

[PCTNN]

...explain your mrs simply won't agree to you not going with as you'd hoped...

Sure, let everyone know who really wears the pants in your house.

OP, for christ sake, behave like a contractor, not like a spineless worm as suggested by this guy.

[Cirrus]

Could I have served some purpose after all?

their 15 month long continuing hunt for a second Solution Architect demonstrates.

Interesting. Citi couldn't go without a project manager for a week but your client has soldiered on for 15 months. Does this suggest project managers are many, many times more important than solution architects?

Dunno, just asking...

[eek]

Interesting. Citi couldn't go without a project manager for a week but your client has soldiered on for 15 months. Does this suggest project managers are many, many times more important than solution architects?

Dunno, just asking...

I work in a smallish sector and most available solution architects will either be working for the bigger consultancies or contractors. As I know most of the contractors as it's a very small world directing them to other places is a very easy thing to do.

All I've currently done is limit their expansion opportunities (no senior skilled staff to lead projects) - the really cruel bit will be in a few months.

[psychocandy]

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.

Had one lady agent who insisted I had to run all holidays past her. I said no bollacks do I - if its sorted with the client its a done deal. But I did agree to tell her when I had sorted time off.

She didn't get it - next holiday I pretty much worded it as "I will be off between x and y, agreed with client". Still came back with "OK happy to authorise that". Jeez....

[PCTNN]

Had one lady agent who insisted I had to run all holidays past her. I said no bollacks do I - if its sorted with the client its a done deal. But I did agree to tell her when I had sorted time off.

She didn't get it - next holiday I pretty much worded it as "I will be off between x and y, agreed with client". Still came back with "OK happy to authorise that". Jeez....

Why did you even agree to let the agent know you had holidays sorted with the client? I've never let an agent know about my holidays plan. After you start a contract, the only interaction you need to have with an agent is when it's extension time or of you're giving notice.

[heyya99]

My pleasure!

(I’m a tough love kinda gal.)

Always thought you were a man.

[thebone]

Why did you even agree to let the agent know you had holidays sorted with the client? I've never let an agent know about my holidays plan. After you start a contract, the only interaction you need to have with an agent is when it's extension time or of you're giving notice.

Agents like to know the reason why they earn nothing for doing nothing on those days you are off, instead of the usual loads of money for doing nothing.

[BoredBloke]

You are not their employee, presumably you are an employee through your own ltd company. If you employed a builder to build an extension for you and they had a holiday booked in the middle of the job, then you are the customer would have to either accept the delay or choose another supplier. Do you really think the builder would drop their holiday because their customer told them to. That would only happen if the customer made it worth their while.

As others have said, I'd accept the extension but with the warning that you will not be available for the time in July. The client does have 6 and a bit months to prepare

[psychocandy]

Why did you even agree to let the agent know you had holidays sorted with the client? I've never let an agent know about my holidays plan. After you start a contract, the only interaction you need to have with an agent is when it's extension time or of you're giving notice.

I agree but they're gonna notice when theres no timesheet for the week. I've found a lot will then phone you anyway and say "oh no timesheet for last week?"

In this case, I couldn't be arsed to argue and said "fine I'll tell you". Bit pointless but if the agent was happy thinking she's authorised my leave (which had been sorted anyway) who am I to spoil their fun ;-)

[psychocandy]

You are not their employee, presumably you are an employee through your own ltd company. If you employed a builder to build an extension for you and they had a holiday booked in the middle of the job, then you are the customer would have to either accept the delay or choose another supplier. Do you really think the builder would drop their holiday because their customer told them to. That would only happen if the customer made it worth their while.

As others have said, I'd accept the extension but with the warning that you will not be available for the time in July. The client does have 6 and a bit months to prepare

EXACTLY....

I did do a gig once. Only 6 weeks. It was all ramping up towards one particular day in the year. Quite rightly at interview they asked if anyone had any holiday plans more than an odd day.

Seemed fair to me - they didn't want anyone taking a week off on go live week.