The professional day

**BrilloPad** · 23 December 2008, 11:02

Originally posted by wurzel View Post

This isn't a whinge but just wondering if anyone else out there ever gets asked (told) to work hours which are beyond what is reasonable.

Been in UATs for the last 4 weeks - have done 3 all nighters in the last week fixing issues and haven't been home once before 11 pm. Trouble is, the issues come in just as you're preparing to go home and you're told they have to be fixed up and put in a new release ready for the start of the next working day. When I mention a bit of time off in lieu I am reminded of the so called professional day and that there ain't a lot of work out there at the moment. Unfortunately they are right.

Spend as much time posting on cuk : do as little as possible while telling everyone how much you are doing.

And apply for other gigs.

**wurzel** · 23 December 2008, 11:07

I should also mention that the end client is an EU department. Haven't they just been bigging up some legislation restricting working hours? Ironic really.

**pmeswani** · 23 December 2008, 11:10

Originally posted by wurzel View Post

This isn't a whinge but just wondering if anyone else out there ever gets asked (told) to work hours which are beyond what is reasonable.

Been in UATs for the last 4 weeks - have done 3 all nighters in the last week fixing issues and haven't been home once before 11 pm. Trouble is, the issues come in just as you're preparing to go home and you're told they have to be fixed up and put in a new release ready for the start of the next working day. When I mention a bit of time off in lieu I am reminded of the so called professional day and that there ain't a lot of work out there at the moment. Unfortunately they are right.

How many hours are you putting in each day? Are you charging them by the day or the hour? Remind them of http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ff/DG_10029426 (even though you may not be an employee, you are entitled to work no more than 48 hours in a week. However, some flexibility is needed from both ends).

If you feel that the client is abusing their position, walk away from the contract or renegotiate the T's & C's.

**wurzel** · 23 December 2008, 11:16

Originally posted by pmeswani View Post

How many hours are you putting in each day? Are you charging them by the day or the hour? Remind them of http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employme...ff/DG_10029426 (even though you may not be an employee, you are entitled to work no more than 48 hours in a week. However, some flexibility is needed from both ends).

If you feel that the client is abusing their position, walk away from the contract or renegotiate the T's & C's.

It's by the day and I'm doing a minimum of 11 hours and a max of 24 hours per day at the moment. The client I work for is a Greek software consultancy, the end client is an EU department in Spain. I'm actually contracted through an agency in Luxembourg but it's the end client making the demands with the Greek co making sure I am here to get the stuff done.

**pmeswani** · 23 December 2008, 11:27

Originally posted by wurzel View Post

It's by the day and I'm doing a minimum of 11 hours and a max of 24 hours per day at the moment. The client I work for is a Greek software consultancy, the end client is an EU department in Spain. I'm actually contracted through an agency in Luxembourg but it's the end client making the demands with the Greek co making sure I am here to get the stuff done.

The Department in Spain can make all the demands they want, but if your client (The Greek Software Consultancy) is making unreasonable demands of your time and therefore impacting on your health and family life (if you have one), then you can either renegotiate the contract or walk away.

**Cheshire Cat** · 23 December 2008, 11:30

Yes, have some balls man.
Stand up for yourself.

**wurzel** · 23 December 2008, 11:42

Yes, I know I should stand up to them but the trouble is I've already seen 2 colleagues get the heave-ho for taking a stance on this. I just can't afford to be out of work at the moment, and I think they probably know it. I'm off for Chrimbo from tomorrow (hopefully) and after that I plan on walking sometime around Feb / March when hopefully the market will have picked up a little bit. Ta for your comments anyhow.

**Cheshire Cat** · 23 December 2008, 11:46

Originally posted by wurzel View Post

Yes, I know I should stand up to them but the trouble is I've already seen 2 colleagues get the heave-ho for taking a stance on this. I just can't afford to be out of work at the moment, and I think they probably know it. I'm off for Chrimbo from tomorrow (hopefully) and after that I plan on walking sometime around Feb / March when hopefully the market will have picked up a little bit. Ta for your comments anyhow.

I sympathise with your situation, I've been in psitions where I've felt that I had to work unbearably long hours, or in difficult working conditions because there was no alternative.
But what you described is not normal or acceptable. Even more so if you anticipate that it will persist for the next couple of months, as I infer from your post.
My advice, for what it's worth, is to make it your primary aim to find a new job/contract.

**foritisme** · 23 December 2008, 11:55

Not an ideal solution, but can't you mention the fact that a professional can only do so much quality work in a day and maybe negotiate coming in later in the morning if most of the work for you in coming in later in the day ?

The professional day