An unwanted day off....

[Wilmslow]

As only a 3 month gig on good money I planned to work all possible days.

Fine to get the bank hols off (Christmas day boxing day new years etc).

Client INSISTS I get a day off on Christmas week.

Very reluctantly I agreed to taking the 27th off, but would rather rake in what I can while I can.

Am I being tight?!?

Anyone else having any Chriastmas fun and games?

[ladymuck]

I've always worked Christmas, even when I was a permie. Would work xmas and boxing day too if I could!

[BrowneIssue]

You'd love the public sector. One or two weeks of compulsory unpaid leave at Xmas / New Year and/or Bank Holiday Tuesdays.

[cojak]

Client INSISTS I get a day off on Christmas week.

This is good - it shows no Mutuality of Obligation - a good non IR35 pointer.

[OrangeHopper]

Be thankful you aren't being forced to take off three weeks!

[castoff101]

I was forced to take off Christmas week once to reduce the end of year head-count. I started again the first week in January. That was two years ago and am just starting my third year at the same company. Have not had the same situation since.

[Devlin]

I have to take the whole week off and return on Jan 2nd! Not that I'm too worried as that's exactly what I wanted to take off anyway.

[VectraMan]

I always think Christmas is the worst possible time to take time off as there's never anything on. I'd rather work, and then take a week off later. In fact if we're going to have a national holiday week, for office types anyway, why don't we have it in the summer?

But if you need to be on site and the client says "office will be closed", there's not a lot you can do. This year I could probably work at home, but I doubt I'll bother. 51 weeks working is enough in a year.

[Denny]

This is good - it shows no Mutuality of Obligation - a good non IR35 pointer.

Wrong. It shows direction and control. Not a good Ir35 pointer. Depending on how the client phrases your 'day off' (which is a very permie term anway). If the client told you that there's no work for you to do, then fine. If they said, they aren't willing to pay even if there is work and it is used as a way of getting you to conform to normal working and vacation patterns so you can't be an exception that's not so good.

No freelancer is told when they can and can't work, when the work is there.

[FCSimmo]

Am I being tight?!?

Yes, lighten up Scrooge and get down the pub!