Workplace stuff as a contractor

[lukemg]

Had a mate contractor, section got a new boss in and a couple of weeks later he got hauled in. New boss says, sorry to say there have been over 18 pounds of personal calls from your office phone in the last 2 months. Without a word, mate peels a twenty off and says - I trust we won't need to have this conversation again ! It's risky but he knew his worth and he wasn't loving the company so just refused to take any grief.

[Brussels Slumdog]

Switch your mobile off

In my third week of a (several month) contract. Just got told off for stepping outside the building twice this morning for taking two phone calls - each about four minutes each. Apparently one of the big bosses have noticed. My line manager was fair about it, he said considering the team in general is overloaded (reason for my hiring) everyone has a duty to 'seem' busy. But he also said, "I wouldn't ask you to take as much note of it if you were permanent, but you're a contractor..."

This is my first time contracting, and already I can't help getting this niggling feeling that as a contractor you walk a much tighter line on playing conditions (phone calls/internet/breaks...)?

What do the others think?

From day one on the contract I always switch my mobile off as 90% of calls are agents. If you need to make a private call do it during the lunch break or while walking to another area of the building. If you are in Wing A
walk to Wing D while making that call. Most open planned offices have small quite rooms where you can also makes calls. Make sure that you now always know where your line manager or big complaining boss is
before going outside.

[Fred Bloggs]

I have had gigs at a couple of really naff places. I stayed at each long enough to land my next contract, in both caes, around 6 weeks. Naturally, such naff/short gigs never appear on my resume. Some places the agencies just know have a really bad reputation amongst contractors too, so are not surprised when you jack in.

[stillooking]

Ask to speak to "big boss", explaining that you are the Managing Director of your company. Then tell him to f**k off. Oh, and punch him. Hard.

You are a contractor. Take no sh--.

Oh, and maybe look for another contract.

There have been a couple of times that people in a client workplace should have received a punch from my puny fist, but what's stopped me is that my co. is liable for any injury caused and therefore I can be sued. That wouldn't be nice.

I'm sure you were only joking? .

Wouldn't bother speaking to the MD or indeed punching him, just try and find another co to work for, not easy in these times of course.

[achilles]

There are certain clients who do not understand how contractors operate and take objection to personal phone calls, surfing the internet, even using your own laptop while at work. These are environments you do not want to be in because all the good people on the project would eventually leave and the end result would be a failure.

Contractors are deliverables driven, not time driven. If I make personal calls for half-hour and then I stay an hour longer in the evening, who has the right to say anything to me?

My advice would be to look for a new contract and hand in your notice when you found one.

[nomadd]

There have been a couple of times that people in a client workplace should have received a punch from my puny fist, but what's stopped me is that my co. is liable for any injury caused and therefore I can be sued. That wouldn't be nice.

I'm sure you were only joking?

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

[stillooking]

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

it would be good if we could perhaps do this occasionally and get away with it

[MarillionFan]

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

tulip. Wrong login...

[norrahe]

What Zeity Said, if it's a 3 monther and you're nearing the end of it, just leave before they offer you the extension.

I've worked for some utter knobs, you just leave, there is a reason you contract and its so you don't have to put up with this kinda crap.

[BolshieBastard]

Had a mate contractor, section got a new boss in and a couple of weeks later he got hauled in. New boss says, sorry to say there have been over 18 pounds of personal calls from your office phone in the last 2 months. Without a word, mate peels a twenty off and says - I trust we won't need to have this conversation again ! It's risky but he knew his worth and he wasn't loving the company so just refused to take any grief.

LOL! Great story but what if the boss trousers the 20 quid note!?