Strange Contract

**Antman** · 6 June 2013, 19:04

chill & bill

**BolshieBastard** · 6 June 2013, 19:21

Originally posted by spongeym View Post

So, I'm in my first contract, thought I'd landed on my feet really, the client didn't mind when I started as I think they were happy with me during the interviews etc. and its a big name company in an industry I've not worked in before.

There isn't much/any project work going on, which is a shame as there is so much scope to do stuff there, which isn't what I was told in the interview. So I'm pretty much stuck doing BAU support 100% of the time, which is ok if there was some to do!!

I'm pretty much stuck at various client sites doing naff all, as I solved the majority of underlying issues left by the previous contractor. I've asked and suggested projects, but the client only wants me to get involved in what I'd call Business Analyst type work which I have absolutely no interest in and more importantly isn't in my scope of work.

My contract runs until November, and I know they would just keep the contract going for as long as they possibly can, but I need out and out now before I lose my sanity.

The other permies just sit back and let the world pass by and the other contractors just don't care about there being nothing to do.

Is/has anyone else been on a client site with absolutely nothing to do on a long term contract? If so, how on earth did you cope?! Is it just a case of sit back and invoice, or did you self train etc?

My main fear is, being stuck here I'm not picking anything up or getting hands on any real technology and fear being left behind contracting wise.

This sounds like a rehash of a post from a few months ago where someone said they had nothing to do except surf the net all day.

And for that reason, Im out.

**jamesbrown** · 6 June 2013, 19:24

Originally posted by spongeym View Post

and more importantly isn't in my scope of work

And you've refused for that reason, I assume?

**northernladuk** · 6 June 2013, 20:27

Originally posted by spongeym View Post

There isn't much/any project work going on, which is a shame as there is so much scope to do stuff there, which isn't what I was told in the interview. So I'm pretty much stuck doing BAU support 100% of the time, which is ok if there was some to do!!

I hope to god you are through and umbrella.....

I'm pretty much stuck at various client sites doing naff all, as I solved the majority of underlying issues left by the previous contractor. I've asked and suggested projects, but the client only wants me to get involved in what I'd call Business Analyst type work which I have absolutely no interest in and more importantly isn't in my scope of work.

I hope to god you are through an umbrella.....

My contract runs until November, and I know they would just keep the contract going for as long as they possibly can, but I need out and out now before I lose my sanity.

I hope to god you are through an umbrella.....

The other permies just sit back and let the world pass by and the other contractors just don't care about there being nothing to do.

Is/has anyone else been on a client site with absolutely nothing to do on a long term contract? If so, how on earth did you cope?! Is it just a case of sit back and invoice, or did you self train etc?

My main fear is, being stuck here I'm not picking anything up or getting hands on any real technology and fear being left behind contracting wise.

You, my friend, are not a contractor.

**jamesbrown** · 6 June 2013, 21:37

Harsh but fair

Based on the above description, the OP is really being treated as a temp, not a contractor.

**SueEllen** · 6 June 2013, 21:50

FFS if there is nothing to do go home.

**Wanderer** · 7 June 2013, 06:52

I feel your pain. I've worked on jobs like that and it's soul destroying not having anything to do but 6 Months in a bit of a dead end won't kill you. I did one of these jobs and in due course it turned into some of the best work I've done but for a while I wondered what on earth was going on. Are they still paying you? Then this advice sums it up neatly:

Originally posted by Antman View Post

chill & bill

Self study is good, find something you can get stuck into but also make sure you are ready to jump as soon as you are needed by the client. Some clients will get people on site and leave them idle because they have a big job coming up and they can't afford to be messing about when they need someone at short notice.

Definitely don't just sack it in or you will be sat at home doing nothing which is worse than sitting at work doing nothing.

**psychocandy** · 7 June 2013, 09:37

Yeh. Its boring but compare with my current client who seem to think I can do 12 hours+ of work a day (I dont do it BTW). And are constantly hassling me.

Of course, somewhere in the middle is ideal...

**NDawg** · 7 June 2013, 10:14

Originally posted by spongeym View Post

Is/has anyone else been on a client site with absolutely nothing to do on a long term contract? If so, how on earth did you cope?! Is it just a case of sit back and invoice, or did you self train etc?

My main fear is, being stuck here I'm not picking anything up or getting hands on any real technology and fear being left behind contracting wise.

Is this a trick question?

Nothing to do and you're still getting paid? As others have said, sit back and keep on billing. You're basically getting paid to do WHATEVER you want (within reason).

Case-in-point: I was on a contract about 2 weeks ago where I had nothing to do literally all day after I ran the morning checklist. I was on site in case something went wrong. It didn't, What should have been a boring contract became something else instead because the rest of my time was spent studying for an upcoming exam (which I'm pretty confident I passed) and watching movies (my laptop has a privacy screen for this reason alone). Good to go.

Never turn down free money.

EDIT: If you're really stuck for ideas on what to do, download Rosetta Stone and learn a new language or something. Then go contract in China, where you'll probably have to do the amount of work you seem to want...

Strange Contract