Contractors that don't work 5 day weeks...

[darmstadt]

The majority of my contracts during the last 10 years have either been 3-4 days a week. This is either because I run multiple contracts at the same time or because they're not local and I just tell the company I'm only available for that period of time. Seems to work...

[bassy]

I've worked like this on quite a few contracts now (SQL devt):
The last one I compressed 5 days into 4 - came in early every day and stayed late. I worked 5 day weeks for the first month and then arranged for the revised week once they got to know me.

The one before that I worked from home 3 days a week and just went into the office 2 days a week.
(negotiated this at interview)

And the contract before that I worked from home one day per week (negotiated at the first three month renewal).

I did try and work my current contract 3 days per week but they made a lot of people redundant so I'm now sole project person. Means my plan B suffers now that I'm doing 5 days a week.

As you see it can be done but you usually have to prove yourself to the client first.

[BolshieBastard]

One of my previous banking clients used to let you work 5 days in 4. Being a 35 hour week also helped and for nearly 4.5 years I only worked 4 days!

In the current market though, just asking the client in interview how flexible are they on start \ finish times seems to mark you out as some sort of slacker (only kidding!).

What strikes me is a lot of clients dont like upsetting the permies by allowing the contractors to WFH unless the permies have the same facility or better.

[jmo21]

The fact your company won't let you work reduced hours isn't because you're a permie, it's because they are inflexible (or your line manager is). I wouldn't go contracting for that reason alone, in fact I think it would be far easier to find a new permie job with an employer who is prepared to treat you with more respect.

yep, I agree with this.

I know plenty of permies with flexible working, whether it be proper flexi-time, compressed hours, working from home.

A friend of mine is about to take advantage of the changes in maternity/paternity and take the last 2 months of his wifes maternity leave (not sure if his employer HAS to allow this though?)

I also know a contractor who once negotiated a 4 day week at extension time.

Always fancied doing the same at some point should it work for project/client.

[d000hg]

What strikes me is a lot of clients dont like upsetting the permies by allowing the contractors to WFH unless the permies have the same facility or better.

Also I reckon being a contractor plays against you - they want a short-time resource to come and work without all the mess of having an employee with rights and personal life that they should accommodate. A (good) company should expect to give a bit to the employee so the employee gives to them and feels some sort of bond, not so with a contractor.

[fragglerock]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Take home is 'maybe' I think

[northernladuk]

How do you get 'maybe' from all that feedback??

[GillsMan]

Whenever a client asks me to do a contract, say, of 3-6 months, I nearly always advise them that they don't need me as a fixed-resource for that period of time. I agree a fixed-price (to deliver the work, usually implementations) and tell them that if the project takes longer, they don't pay more. This allows me to work multiple contracts at the same time, for multiple clients, and allows me to come and go as I please. So I turn up for meetings, and stuff like that, but I'm not a bum-on-a-seat.

Sometimes, the client doesn't like that and we don't agree a deal. Usually they do, and we do.

Admittedly, I work with learning technologies, and a lot of the work is done via the web, so can be done remotely. I also develop e-learning which requires specialist software, which I have and the client doesn't. So that lends itself to WFH also.

[BlasterBates]

You need to look at this:

https://www.elance.com/

It´s mainly web work and mobiles, I´m looking at it seriously but I really need to improve my web building skills, which I´m doing.

[jmo21]

You need to look at this:

https://www.elance.com/

It´s mainly web work and mobiles, I´m looking at it seriously but I really need to improve my web building skills, which I´m doing.

There are a few sites like this.

I'd be very surprised if you made anything from them.

Full of bobs bidding peanuts.