Recruiters: Seeing it from t'otherside

[evilagent]

The place where I am working is building a team.
I am one of 4 new contractors here.
All jolly good fun, and a great place, although the development manager is a bit "intense".

Anyway, one of the contractors here regaled us with an interesting story.
The day rate he is on is £XXX per day, week of 37.5hours. (ie, 7.5-hours a day)
All signed and delivered, etc.

But he has been asked to re-sign the contract for the same day rate, but for a 40 hour week, ie 8-hours a day!

I think he should ask the agency he is with to pro-rata so he doesnt lose the hourly equivalent.
For, if he accepts an 8hour day, when he originally accepted 7.5, he is either working for 30mins a day free, or is working for a lower hourly rate.

I know, I know, the agency pimps/leeches/parasites, are still collecting the same margin.

Aside from the opportunity to show agents as heartless MF'ers, what would your response be in this contractors shoes?

[Contreras]

Negotiate. Then accept or walk. Simples.

Or if he's NCOTBAC, get his mate to whine about it on CUK.

Don't you know there's a conspiracy between agents and clients to push rates down?

[northernladuk]

Question is.. Is he the type of guy that watches the clock to the point he does exactly 37.5 h per week on the dot? Would he be out the door the second after his contracted time? I would like to think not so it is highly likely the reality would be he would be doing close to 40 hours anyway so it really isn't a problem.

I find it hard to believe that 30 mins a day is a deal breaker...

Exactly why have they asked him to re-sign? Is everyone else on 40 hours so the client intention was always 40 hours? In which case a rate rise isn't going to wash.

Sometimes it's worth pushing.... sometimes it just isn't.

[Wanderer]

But he has been asked to re-sign the contract for the same day rate, but for a 40 hour week, ie 8-hours a day!

What happened then - did the agency cock up and put the wrong number of hours in the contract? Try for a payrise from the agency first (so they can save face and the client won't know about their cockup) but if that fails then I'd have a chat to the client and find out what hours they were expecting me to work and how much they were paying the agency. Then I'd be looking to negotiate a payrise out of the agency's margin if there was room to manoeuvre, alternatively just smile and say "no thanks" to the contract amendment.

[masonryan]

Anyway, one of the contractors here regaled us with an interesting story.
The day rate he is on is £XXX per day, week of 37.5hours. (ie, 7.5-hours a day)
All signed and delivered, etc.

But he has been asked to re-sign the contract for the same day rate, but for a 40 hour week, ie 8-hours a day!

I think he should ask the agency he is with to pro-rata so he doesnt lose the hourly equivalent.
For, if he accepts an 8hour day, when he originally accepted 7.5, he is either working for 30mins a day free, or is working for a lower hourly rate.

I know, I know, the agency pimps/leeches/parasites, are still collecting the same margin.

This is another agency betrayal we contractors need to be vigilant of. Each time you get a renewal, check the small print especially the hours. Agencies enjoy showing off to the client co how they've managed to squeeze even more out of you.

[evilagent]

Question is.. Is he the type of guy that watches the clock to the point he does exactly 37.5 h per week on the dot? Would he be out the door the second after his contracted time? I would like to think not so it is highly likely the reality would be he would be doing close to 40 hours anyway so it really isn't a problem.

I find it hard to believe that 30 mins a day is a deal breaker...

Exactly why have they asked him to re-sign? Is everyone else on 40 hours so the client intention was always 40 hours? In which case a rate rise isn't going to wash.

Sometimes it's worth pushing.... sometimes it just isn't.

Early days, but no clock-watching, he seems to just get on with the work, like everyone else.
The company is a 40hr week environment, and I suspect, as per Wanderer, the agency didnt check the paperwork before sending it out.

I dont think he would "walk", for what is a minor amount. He commutes from London to Manc, so he must want the work. But he is on a relatively generous rate, relative to the current market.

[evilagent]

This is another agency betrayal we contractors need to be vigilant of. Each time you get a renewal, check the small print especially the hours. Agencies enjoy showing off to the client co how they've managed to squeeze even more out of you.

Too true, masonryan, we agents should be viewed with suspicion.

Mind your back, I am sharpening my dagger as we speak.

[evilagent]

Negotiate. Then accept or walk. Simples.

Or if he's NCOTBAC, get his mate to whine about it on CUK.

Don't you know there's a conspiracy between agents and clients to push rates down?

Is NCOTBAC an acronym for something? If so, please enlighten.
I have googled it, but no joy.

[malvolio]

Is NCOTBAC an acronym for something? If so, please enlighten.
I have googled it, but no joy.

KUATB : "Not Cut Out To Be A Contractor"

or possibly "Necessary Contactors Oughtn't To Be Agencies' Cashcows"...

[ITPRO2]

The place where I am working is building a team.
I am one of 4 new contractors here.
All jolly good fun, and a great place, although the development manager is a bit "intense".

Anyway, one of the contractors here regaled us with an interesting story.
The day rate he is on is £XXX per day, week of 37.5hours. (ie, 7.5-hours a day)
All signed and delivered, etc.

But he has been asked to re-sign the contract for the same day rate, but for a 40 hour week, ie 8-hours a day!

I think he should ask the agency he is with to pro-rata so he doesnt lose the hourly equivalent.
For, if he accepts an 8hour day, when he originally accepted 7.5, he is either working for 30mins a day free, or is working for a lower hourly rate.

I know, I know, the agency pimps/leeches/parasites, are still collecting the same margin.

Aside from the opportunity to show agents as heartless MF'ers, what would your response be in this contractors shoes?

Most day rates I've see don't mention of a number of hours a day. That sounds more like a staff contract?