Workplace stuff as a contractor

[lukemg]

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

He didn't care, point was to dismiss the middle management bed-wetter as the nobber he was. So many people get these management things wrong, you can’t keep people to the minute or try to micro-manage, they will find a hundred ways to waste more time. You have to find a better way to inspire and get performance, even if that means trusting people sometimes and having a quiet word others.
I was on one contract, boss was miserable and a bit scary and I was new to the game. He approached one of the contractors who had been there a while and asked if he could give his desk a tidy. I nearly fell off my chair when the chap said ‘no, I ain’t tidying it, if you want it doing get someone in’. Pointy haired boss said ‘look, it’s not me that is bothered, someone has mentioned it’ – ‘fine’ came the reply, ‘send them over and I will tell them the same’, PHB retreated and I almost had a coronary trying to stop laughing.

[nfoote]

I'm having the total opposite issue with my current and very first contract, there's nothing to do except waste time!

My team is very small and reactionary, we depend on the teams around us to bring us something to do, but there just isn't that much going on that effects our project!

I'm SURE people around me who are rushed off their feet on other projects and putting in huge overtime have noticed I sit here reading tech blogs most of the day but what am I suppose to do other than constantly ask the permies on my team (also surfing the net) and my line manager (80% reassigned to other projects) if there's ANYTHING to do?

There's only so many hours you can stare at the same page of perfectly functioning code...

[lukemg]

Yep – been here on numerous occasions.
I let it slide for a while, especially at the start of a contract but after a while I would approach hiring manager, PM, whoever and have a quiet word along the lines of ‘look, got a few things coming in but reckon I can take on additional work if required, basically happy to help out with anything I can’.
Now of course this might raise the question of whether you are required at all but it will also tend to give a positive impression and might give you exposure to other work that could extend a contract.
After that, I will feel I have done what I can and while still playing the game I will engage neutral, cut hours to the bone etc while being ready to get stuck in if it picks up and pouncing on any new work.
Others say it’s a chance to learn a new skill on the companies time.
Especially in a big Co. once budget is approved the choice is often you at 50% or you gone and the team have to do more, middle management will be thinking keep you. In addition, always good to keep a bit of slack in the team so they can perform when things pick-up but more importantly when the squeeze comes to cut back, you can chuck a couple of names in the pot and still be able to function.

[Spacecadet]

I'm having the total opposite issue with my current and very first contract, there's nothing to do except waste time!

My team is very small and reactionary, we depend on the teams around us to bring us something to do, but there just isn't that much going on that effects our project!

I'm SURE people around me who are rushed off their feet on other projects and putting in huge overtime have noticed I sit here reading tech blogs most of the day but what am I suppose to do other than constantly ask the permies on my team (also surfing the net) and my line manager (80% reassigned to other projects) if there's ANYTHING to do?

There's only so many hours you can stare at the same page of perfectly functioning code...

Get some ebooks and learn something

Lost count how many times I've been in a position where I'm waiting for movement on a project before I can do anything, usually because of a delayed sign off from the board or a late delivered system.
Still time sat in the clients office is billable time, busy or not!