Attitude towards working hours

[SorenLorensen]

Be flexible, be sensible. Don't work for free regularly or it becomes expected. Why should you do that, you're not a permie. As long as you get the job done, professionally, on time, there should be no issue.

[Greg Longshaft]

are you all mad?

I dont mind doing the odd extra 1/2 hour, but any more then that and i will bill them for it, i work on a hourly rate and any additional hours are liable, it has never affected me getting a renewal before.

there is always give and take, but at the end of the day your a business not an employee.

[SorenLorensen]

there is always give and take, but at the end of the day your a business not an employee.

Indeed, working for free is a permie trait...

[ChrisPackit]

I'm doing a gig at a place where the contractor to permie ratio is low, say 2 or 3%. When I stated here on a 7.5 hour professional day, I was getting in around 7:15, but then firing off around 3:15 after doing a 'full' day. Guess what, it wasn't my punctuality for being in at 7 o'clock that was being commented on, as everyone else was strolling in around 9am. I was told that the earliest I could leave was 4am as it doesn't "look good" when IT bods are leaving that early.

Sometimes you gotta take it in the ass for an easy buck and easy life ...

[curtis]

I have always found that it never matters whether you get in early or work through your lunch all that is picked up on is when you leave.

It still seems that if you leave early or even on time in some places your not as committed as the rest or taking the p**s.

This is part of the reason i would rather get paid hourly rather than daily as I know what i work I get paid for and they are more likely not to want me to stay longer. More than the odd free working is in my eyes a permie trait to try and gain those brownie points for bonus and review time.

[craig1]

I'm doing a gig at a place where the contractor to permie ratio is low, say 2 or 3%. When I stated here on a 7.5 hour professional day, I was getting in around 7:15, but then firing off around 3:15 after doing a 'full' day. Guess what, it wasn't my punctuality for being in at 7 o'clock that was being commented on, as everyone else was strolling in around 9am. I was told that the earliest I could leave was 4am as it doesn't "look good" when IT bods are leaving that early.

Sometimes you gotta take it in the ass for an easy buck and easy life ...

I worked at one place in the early 2000s where I did international PM work. Some times I was in at silly times of the morning for teleconferences and then late again in the evening for more (hourly rate so I didn't mind). For those outside of working hours I did them from home, leaving early enough from "work" to get home in time for the call.

The PMO manager in charge took me aside and mentioned that it had been commented on that at least twice a week I was leaving before 4pm and on Mondays I wasn't in until 10am, I replied that yes, I did, but I was working to midnight on those nights from home and had a 6am-8am teleconference on Mondays. His comment was "it's bad for the techies morale to see project managers swanning in and out as they please", could I make sure I'm in the office 9-5:30 from now on and do all of my out-of-hours teleconferences from my office desk. He made it very clear that he would no longer authorise telecoms expenses from me as I could do it from the office provided desk and phone.

He got even more huffy the next week when complaints started coming in about me cancelling all of my out-of-hours teleconferences.

That contract didn't last much longer by mutual agreement!

[ChrisPackit]

I worked at one place in the early 2000s where I did international PM work. Some times I was in at silly times of the morning for teleconferences and then late again in the evening for more (hourly rate so I didn't mind). For those outside of working hours I did them from home, leaving early enough from "work" to get home in time for the call.

The PMO manager in charge took me aside and mentioned that it had been commented on that at least twice a week I was leaving before 4pm and on Mondays I wasn't in until 10am, I replied that yes, I did, but I was working to midnight on those nights from home and had a 6am-8am teleconference on Mondays. His comment was "it's bad for the techies morale to see project managers swanning in and out as they please", could I make sure I'm in the office 9-5:30 from now on and do all of my out-of-hours teleconferences from my office desk. He made it very clear that he would no longer authorise telecoms expenses from me as I could do it from the office provided desk and phone.

He got even more huffy the next week when complaints started coming in about me cancelling all of my out-of-hours teleconferences.

That contract didn't last much longer by mutual agreement!

Sometimes these permie "knobs" make a rod for their own back, with the lack of flexibility. I last did a spell at LBG before current gig where they are totally comfortable with contractors and the way they operate. Here, with such a low number of contractors here, it's difficult for them to get out of the permie mentality. LBG were far more professional in their approach to business because of this...

[StopTheEarthIwantToGetOff]

Working a professional day does not mean you should regularly work until 8pm for free. I very rarely work beyond 7.5 hours today. I have of course worked extra hours into the night for clients when its been needed, but they have paid for that. So don't drink the kool-aid that others here seem to be throwing down their necks with naive glee.

Working for nothing = slavery

[teclo]

Sometimes I'll do an extra hour, maybe 90 minutes. If it goes over 4 hours though it's taking the piss and then I'll start charging in 4 hour chunks.

Some of the contractors here stay for ages after I leave, god knows why?? Trying to look good I guess.

[curtis]

Some of the contractors here stay for ages after I leave, god knows why?? Trying to look good I guess.

I used to try and 'look good' by working for free until in one permanent job where I had given free time after work, time at weekends I found that other people were getting paid for it. Never again after that. Also had another job where they wanted us over a weekend for a move no pay we stood our ground boss told us 'ok we will pay you but don't tell any of the others'!!