Actual Hours v Contracted Hours

[ratewhore]

My contract states 5 PWD's a week which leaves it nicely open to interpretation. I also ensure the client, at interview, understands I base my contract on deliverables, not time. Then I do whatever I need to to get the deliverable out on time. Rarely does this mean 37.5 hours per week.

But then, my first gig was 37.5 hours per week which I did, pretty much on the button. You get nothing in this world for free...

[VectraMan]

Are you sure you have to put down hours? I just write "5 days" on the bottom of my timesheet and get that signed.

I treat it like a full time job, and do roughly full time hours much the same as the permies. Technically I can do 5 minutes and charge for the full day, but that doesn't create a very good impression. OTOH if you're there pulling your weight and being part of the team by staying a bit extra as required and not demanding money for it, that creates a good impression and that leads to more work/extensions.

Not everybody sees it like that.

[ratewhore]

Are you sure you have to put down hours? I just write "5 days" on the bottom of my timesheet and get that signed.

I treat it like a full time job, and do roughly full time hours much the same as the permies. Technically I can do 5 minutes and charge for the full day, but that doesn't create a very good impression. OTOH if you're there pulling your weight and being part of the team by staying a bit extra as required and not demanding money for it, that creates a good impression and that leads to more work/extensions.

Not everybody sees it like that.

I always take the view that the client can judge me on delivery. If I get the deliverable out on time then what else is there?

[apb]

Are you sure you have to put down hours? I just write "5 days" on the bottom of my timesheet and get that signed.

I treat it like a full time job, and do roughly full time hours much the same as the permies. Technically I can do 5 minutes and charge for the full day, but that doesn't create a very good impression. OTOH if you're there pulling your weight and being part of the team by staying a bit extra as required and not demanding money for it, that creates a good impression and that leads to more work/extensions.

Not everybody sees it like that.

Not sure - Will found out on Monday when I get introduced to the online timesheet system. It may just ask for days - I just presumed it would probably be more granular and go down to hours. Thanks.

[KathyWoolfe]

On my contract they expect a "professional working week" to be a minimum of 37.5 hrs at a minimum and 45 hrs at a maximum. Normally we are expected to do just the 37.5 hrs but they can enforce the 45 hrs at critical times during the project - without extra payment.
Over the 45 hrs our time is charged at the calculated hourly rate of £weekly pay/ 37.5.

[ratewhore]

On my contract they expect a "professional working week" to be a minimum of 37.5 hrs at a minimum and 45 hrs at a maximum. Normally we are expected to do just the 37.5 hrs but they can enforce the 45 hrs at critical times during the project - without extra payment.
Over the 45 hrs our time is charged at the calculated hourly rate of £weekly pay/ 37.5.

Sounds like D & C to me...

[newbee]

Have started a gig this week, my contract reads the same 37.5hrs pw but I usually stick around bit more, shockingly the permie's do 9-10hr pd!

[VectraMan]

I always take the view that the client can judge me on delivery. If I get the deliverable out on time then what else is there?

I agree that's how it ought to be. However with my client there's no "on time", it's generally "as much as possible as soon as possible".

Unfortunately whilst results are the only thing that should matter, I think you do get judged on effort as well, at least that's my experience.

[ratewhore]

Well, I guess the reality for a lot of people is different from mine. Effort is an interesting one. You can have a permie stretching out a 10 minute job to fill a day. The amount of effort put in is therefore based on perception.

I would rather work smarter than longer which is why I try and avoid any time based commitment in the contract.

[VectraMan]

I would rather work smarter than longer which is why I try and avoid any time based commitment in the contract.

I agree completely. I guess it's just a case of having the confidence to do it, and I find myself wanting to fit in (even with the permies). With the Plan B work it's feels great to just be able to do the work without any constraints or expectations on hours.