Unreasonable hours - help from the expierenced contractor required!

[craig1]

In future what wording is appropriate for the contract in terms of hours? I dont want to tie myself into 9-5 working hours but at the same time I dont want to have the piss taken out of me so whats a pragmatic solution? What is a sensible line to include in a contract? Ive needed to be on site in terms of access to the clients email and network, and need to be here to meet with other employees, its banking so cant use my own tools.

One of my last contracts had this on the "hours" bit of the schedule:

A billable day consists of a minimum of seven hours of work in a single given day. This work will be performed at any time between 8am and 6pm at the discretion of (my company). Work done outside of this time window is additionally chargeable at £ (twice the pro-rated daily rate) per hour when agreed in advance between (my company) and (client).

[2BIT]

I wouldn't fight it just get out as soon as you can - you don't wanna be anywhere near a place like that and as a contractor you get to pick your hours

[SueEllen]

I wouldn't fight it just get out as soon as you can - you don't wanna be anywhere near a place like that and as a contractor you get to pick your hours

There always tends to be some constraints in which you can pick your hours if you have to work on client site and/or have to work with the permies.

Most client sites are only open between hours for security reasons, so for example trying to work in the middle of the night won't work.

Likewise if you have to work with permies then it's no good you working in the middle of the night, if they work in the day. Even if you don't work with permies and have to work with other contractors then issues like travel and family come into play.

[lukemg]

They are taking the piss but if you are desperate I would stay and start looking. First off though I would be playing the kids (missus away or works in the evening) or sick relative card to exclude me from any out-of-hours work. If they then wanted to bin me, probably best all round.

[jmo21]

It depends how much you need the role, and how quickly you think you could find another one.

If you are confident you could, I'd be inclined to simply tell them you were not aware of this shift requirement and that your circumstances do not suit working those hours.

Being a contractor, this might get you the chop however.

[BentheBA]

Does anyone think that doubling my day rate would be an option? I.e requesting double days for a nights work?

Clearly the hours are unreasonable and at the moment I have yet to agree them.

In your experience whats the likelihood of a client agreeing a couple of additional days on top of the normal rate?

[ratewhore]

"Professional working day" is rarely acceptable unless defined.

Works for me as I define what it is. Never had a problem so far...

[northernladuk]

Works for me as I define what it is. Never had a problem so far...

Hurrah!! SAme here

Does anyone think that doubling my day rate would be an option? I.e requesting double days for a nights work?

Double days is a bit much for a nights work IMO.

[craig1]

Works for me as I define what it is. Never had a problem so far...

I envy your ability to trust... I'm obviously just a cynical, miserable, bitter and twisted contractor

[2BIT]

Does anyone think that doubling my day rate would be an option? I.e requesting double days for a nights work?

Clearly the hours are unreasonable and at the moment I have yet to agree them.

In your experience whats the likelihood of a client agreeing a couple of additional days on top of the normal rate?

whilst you cant dictate the working hours of an organization you can certainly choose not to work there because of working hours - I don't think you are gonna get much luck trying to get them to treat you differently which is why i suggest leaving rather than fighting, go find a role with decent hours because as a contractor you have that freedom