Long commute to contract - experiences?

[Mephisto]

Interesting thread.

When you say "late start", do you mean 10am? If it's later would that impinge on any 'core hours' that they have?

Slightly O/T but I once had a 'Line Manager' tell me I was 'late' for turning up at 9:30am one Monday. When I suggested it was none of her business as I am merely a commodity with as much human validity as the coffee machine she got the hump and stormed off muttering.

I really wish ClientCo would brief their staff on Contractors better to avoid this kind of shiiite

As for commuting I find it very normal to be looking at anywhere but the North West for contract work at the minute - Planet London is where all the gigs in my arena appear to be.

[stevejohnson]

WDBS.

I can't face a 5 day a week commute (2 hours each way), so I stay over on Tuesday and Wednesday and work from home on Moday & Friday.

and on Thursdays u in love ?

[Butcheroo]

Long commute to contract - experiences?

Slightly O/T but I once had a 'Line Manager' tell me I was 'late' for turning up at 9:30am one Monday. When I suggested it was none of her business as I am merely a commodity with as much human validity as the coffee machine she got the hump and stormed off muttering.

I really wish ClientCo would brief their staff on Contractors better to avoid this kind of shiiite

As for commuting I find it very normal to be looking at anywhere but the North West for contract work at the minute - Planet London is where all the gigs in my arena appear to be.

Problem is that is typical. I get frowned at when I turn up of leave at different times to permies ****s me off. My manager even said no when I said I was off. I told her it was not a request. Too many line managers treat us as temps not a business

Hence why ir35 is horrible, if they interviewed my line manager she would say a lot different to me.

[stek]

Currently have a 212 mile round trip (NE), still can't drive yet tho due having defibrillator fitted so it's the train for me.

Previous gig was in Swansea (Heads of the Valleys is a nice road!) - almost a 600 mile round trip.

I stay over mon -fri and also due to almost all of my recent roles being SC there is no WFH....

[northernladuk]

Interesting thread.

When you say "late start", do you mean 10am? If it's later would that impinge on any 'core hours' that they have?

Not sure if this is a response to me but as a contractor I don't recognise their core hours BUT I do respect them. They are between 10am and 4pm so really don't need to break them but I have been in and out within their core hours a few times but usually because I took an early call at home before driving in. I do a bit more than 8 hours generally as well so I cant be accused of clock watching or wagging it.

[stevejohnson]

Not sure if this is a response to me but as a contractor I don't recognise their core hours BUT I do respect them. They are between 10am and 4pm so really don't need to break them but I have been in and out within their core hours a few times but usually because I took an early call at home before driving in. I do a bit more than 8 hours generally as well so I cant be accused of clock watching or wagging it.

Never. I stay 20 - 30 mins less at least. Easiest way to add 2 - 3 % to your rate.

[northernladuk]

Never. I stay 20 - 30 mins less at least. Easiest way to add 2 - 3 % to your rate.

But does your client offer you the flexibility I have? I give a bit I take a bit. Works for me.

[speling bee]

But does your client offer you the flexibility I have? I give a bit I take a bit. Works for me.

OFFER? You should take, not wait to be offered.

[DaveB]

Currently have a 212 mile round trip (NE), still can't drive yet tho due having defibrillator fitted so it's the train for me.

Previous gig was in Swansea (Heads of the Valleys is a nice road!) - almost a 600 mile round trip.

I stay over mon -fri and also due to almost all of my recent roles being SC there is no WFH....

Interesting that they say SC stops you working from home. I'm currently in a central govt gig working under SC and wfh at least one day a week if not more.

DV I could understand if you were working on high impact material but at SC level the requirements for control over the end points are easy enough to meet.

[Gibbon]

- Miles on car. If you've got a nice car, its going to have loads of miles on it soon. If you decide to buy a not so nice car, you risk unreliability issues as above.

You can alleviate this by using HP and handing it back at the half way point as there is no mileage restriction as long as you have the 1974 agreement and not some lease thing.. I've done with the last four cars with the same HP company and it's had no detrimental effect on my credit rating. Only works well with aprox 35K a year.