how many hours in a German day?

[darrenb]

Thanks for your advice. Some good tips there, and a lot of what I was thinking myself.

The contract runs for another six weeks. After this I wouldn't extend. I have an old client that wants to take me back anyway.

So I don't really need to curry favour, but I'm still worried about getting paid in the case of a dispute arising. Supposing, they go the mad dog route, and decide not to pay the invoices I've sent them (nothing overdue yet). What would be my recourse? I know what I would do in England: late fees, collections, Small Claims Court, etc. But do equivalents exist in Germany? I've talked to some contractors here who got ripped off by clients and felt there was nothing they could do except go through recruiters in future.

[darrenb]

Supposing, they go the mad dog route, and decide not to pay the invoices I've sent them (nothing overdue yet). What would be my recourse? I know what I would do in England: late fees, collections, Small Claims Court, etc. But do equivalents exist in Germany? I've talked to some contractors here who got ripped off by clients and felt there was nothing they could do except go through recruiters in future.

[darrenb]

I should emphasize again though that the client has done 2 things wrong:
1. forced you to change your contract retrospectively, and possibly to lie in order to suit them.
2. made a threat to abuse their power, to your serious cost.

Both actions tore up the rule book and indicated that you should write them out of your life. If they get away with it once they'll do it again.

I read so many stories on CUK without endings, where the OP didn't come back to report on what happened. Well, I'm the OP here, and this is what happened. It worked out well for at least one of the parties involved.

I refused to sign the retroactive terms. I didn't change my invoices or work more than 8 hours to "compensate". I felt tense about it, and for a few weeks there it looked like the Cuban Missile Crisis, but what happened eventually is that HR basically backed down and didn't challenge me any more. They did harrass me a bit by making me chase invoices, and leave me worrying about the company's financial state, but at this stage everything is paid up, and I'm safe.

The client has been undergoing some difficulties. Their product has had a huge spike of popularity, but on the technical side they have been struggling to keep up with demand. At around the same time I left, a lot of other team members left as well. Consequently, when my contract ended, the client made multiple requests for me to continue. I declined. In a way I am glad they did not treat me well, because if they had, I would have felt morally obliged to stick by them, deal with the chaos they had let grow, brave the freezing German winter, navigate the horrendous city traffic.... taking a step back, I realize I don't need any of that. I'm far from it now.

By the way, although it was my PM who was talking to me, I'm pretty sure the whole thing was instigated by the HR/Accounts people. They never liked me because when I started there, I bypassed their processes and was picked directly by the CEO. This episode is the best example among many I know of HR acting sharply against the interests of the organization it is supposed to be serving.

Possibly they were counting on my not knowing my rights in Germany. For any other freelancers working here, note that there is a well-defined legal process for collecting on invoices that does not require hiring an expensive lawyer. Also, remember to insist on 7 day terms in the case of a new client. It limits their ability to play on your fears.

[NotAllThere]

Possibly they were counting on my not knowing my rights

That's the standard MO of most HR departments all over the world.

[bless 'em all]

I just signed a contract that doesn't specify any number of hours at all, only the hourly rate and the number of 'Professional Days' the client expects each week. The client will sign off any time-sheet without any fuss which totals <40 hours for the week.

I don't plan on being professional for more than 40 hours per week.

Public sector, gotta love em.

[darrenb]

That's the standard MO of most HR departments all over the world.

It may be "standard," but it always baffles me what companies hope to achieve by harrassing the very people who are trying to keep their systems alive.

Surely no better way of shooting yourself in the foot.

[Ignis Fatuus]

It may be "standard," but it always baffles me what companies hope to achieve by harrassing the very people who are trying to keep their systems alive.

Surely no better way of shooting yourself in the foot.

Obvious reply I suppose, but companies aren't doing it, people who work for companies are doing it, because it achieves what they want, regardless of whether it is good for the company or not.

[darrenb]

Obvious reply I suppose, but companies aren't doing it, people who work for companies are doing it, because it achieves what they want, regardless of whether it is good for the company or not.

True, but still, far too easy for the CEO to say, "It's not the company's fault, it was 'rogue elements within the company.' Like, er, the HR department."

Time for execs to stop hiding behind goons. Actions have consequences, nobody can avoid that universal law.