Haven't worked since start day, been told I would be paid?

[jf2010]

I was on a contract at HSBC earlier in the year, it took them 13 weeks to get me a login!!! It was a lovely relaxed summer.

I wouldn't have believed this before! I thought 3 weeks was long. I got my login today wuuhuu its real

[David71]

4th Jan 2019 to July 31st 2019: paid full daily rate including x2 weeks per month in EU. Project never even had the initial kick-off meeting. Due to the nature of the project and required clearances etc. we were told to just wait for things to get going. They never did.

Most money I've ever made for sitting around, half in the UK and half in the EU, and waiting.

[coe123]

I am in the same predicament - started in November, assigned couple of projects which were then put on hold, the place is in a turmoil since mid December with some hiring and firing at the very top, permies seem to be all looking at each other and waiting for directions. They use the 'practice' model and my other line manager tells me there is lot of work in other areas and they want to hire more people (emailed to team to ask for reference with finders fees etc) - they might reassign me elsewhere but I have a feeling that is all tentative too.

I left my earlier contract midway because I had longed finished the big project I was hired for and was really doing small sundry projects which I felt would me no good in the long run. Easily found this new contract at 10% higher rate but all I did in the last 3 month is to attend couple of team calls a week and absolutely no work of any description. My minimum stay anywhere so far has been 1yr but I don't think I'd stick here much longer if this carries on.

[JoJoGabor]

I was on a contract at HSBC earlier in the year, it took them 13 weeks to get me a login!!! It was a lovely relaxed summer.

[cannon999]

Personally I would charge and if they refused to way - I would walk out. Don't care that I didn't do any work. They booked my time - they pay for it regardless of whether I did work or was watching netflix.

[SussexSeagull]

In the olden days (of early 2020) if I turned up at an office having been told I would be working and I didn't because of them not doing something I would expect to be paid. However this gets a bit murkier in the era of work from home, although you have taken yourself off the market so would want a fairly quick resolution to this.

[northernladuk]

And start looking for other gigs. Not unheard of for a delay to turn in to a contract totally evaporating. Don't stop looking until you are sat at the clients (Virtual) desk.

[Paralytic]

It may be reassuring to to hear what HR said, but it's not worth a lot. I'd be asking the person who signs/approves timesheets if they are going to do so. Are your timesheets weekly? Have you submitted one for last week? Has it been signed?

Have you asked for work to do, docs to read, and can you evidence that, or have you just been watching Homes Under the Hammer and A Place in the Sun?

[northernladuk]

I've also had similar for contracts, both inside and outside IR35, and perm roles.

According to your posts you've only had one cushtie number and the gig you are on?

I thought you only started Use your own laptop to attend as many meetings as a guest as you can. Read docs, chase whoever you can. The important bit is to cover your back to make sure you have done everything reasonably possible. .

He's waiting for access so nothing else he can do. There is a fine line between sitting and waiting and being too pushy asking people to mail docs to external emails and so on which shows a disregard to security policies etc. You can only use your own laptop if the companys policy allows you to.

[northernladuk]

Really depends on your situation and contract. If you've got a standard contract it will say that you only get paid with signed timesheet and they won't sign your timesheet because you didn't work then you won't get paid. That's contracting. It's a T&M contract so if you don't work you don't get paid. Standard stuff.

There is some argument that it's their fault so you should get paid but again, if you don't work you don't get paid. Doesn't matter who's fault.

All that said, you've stated you'll get paid by the HR person so really you've answered your own question surely? But then why is HR dealing with contracts? Sounds a bit odd but you haven't told us your IR35/FTC situation which is key.

If they do pay you then happy days, if they don't then that's part of contracting. You can try billing it and have a fight if you want. Other threads on exactly this (and there are quite a few if you search) seem to be 50/50 of 'that's contracting' and 'bill it and see'.

In the old days you could turn up on site and ask someone to print stuff out etc and you'd get paid. In the new days of working from home if you don't have access there is absolutely nothing you can do. We've had a couple of instances where people have had delays like yours and would have got paid by turning up on site but don't because it's WFH.