Normal rate on Weekend work - do you want to accept?

[samay007]

Hi,

I'm working on a short-term contract for a large enterprise company through Hays for the last 2 months and it came for an extension. Now most of the work is going to be over the weekend with one or two days off over the week. Hence I have asked Hays to revise my contract as I cannot work on standard rate for weekend work, they have not accepted it and have not put my extension through. I feel that weekend work should have premium rate or is that not the case...please advise? Thanks

[DaveB]

Hi,

I'm working on a short-term contract for a large enterprise company through Hays for the last 2 months and it came for an extension. Now most of the work is going to be over the weekend with one or two days off over the week. Hence I have asked Hays to revise my contract as I cannot work on standard rate for weekend work, they have not accepted it and have not put my extension through. I feel that weekend work should have premium rate or is that not the case...please advise? Thanks

Your contract, your decision. Take the offer or walk away, thats all there is to it.

[MyUserName]

Hi,

I'm working on a short-term contract for a large enterprise company through Hays for the last 2 months and it came for an extension. Now most of the work is going to be over the weekend with one or two days off over the week. Hence I have asked Hays to revise my contract as I cannot work on standard rate for weekend work, they have not accepted it and have not put my extension through. I feel that weekend work should have premium rate or is that not the case...please advise? Thanks

There is no 'the case'. Every contract is specific to it's circumstances. You felt it should have a premium therefore that is the case for you with that contract. Agencies and clients are within their rights not to agree.

[Scruff]

I have worked weekends variously for flat rate, x 1.25, x 1.5, x2.0 and TOIL. It really depends on whether you want to work and get paid, or not?

Where it has been flat rate, I have always agreed with the client that I bill from when I leave home, until I return home, or get additional TOIL.

On Hays's portal, they have a number of codes 010, 104, 107 etc and you need to agree to the terms of how to record your time, in writing, before signing anything.

010 Standard Day
100 Weekdays over 10hrs/pwd
104 Overtime Saturday
107 Over time Sunday
108 Overtime bank holidays

Good luck

[northernladuk]

Time Off In Lieu? Seriously? That is for permies. You are a contractor that works the days required. You bill for the days you work, if you are not needed or not available you don't bill. None of this time off in lieu crap. I am sure HMRC will love to see that referenced during an IR35 investigation. Use the concept but call it something else.

I echo the other responses. It is up to you to negotiate what fits your requirements. That is one of the benefits of being a contractor. If the extra hassle/cost of working weekends is an issue then up the rate. If you are happy to do it and not work a few days in the week at a day rate then go for it. There is no harm in offering an enhanced rate but don't be too surprised if the client won't accept. At that point you make a decision on whether to sign or not.

Also, a very minor point but, I don't like the 1.5x 2x thing, sounds very permie. It also isn't very flexible. 2x a £600 day contract is a lot of bloody money for a days work to the client and will put him off straight away. An extra £600 just for working a Saturday could also be argued to be pretty unreasonable. Offer a rate for the weekend that you are comfortable with, forget multiplication factors. They are for companies to use when a host of permies are on different rates. You bill x for a weekday and y for a weekend. Looks much better IMO.

[DirtyDog]

Your contract, your decision. Take the offer or walk away, thats all there is to it.

This.

I had one client who when I asked if they were paying a higher rate for weekend work said "well, we've got to stick to the contract and there's only one rate in there. Hope you understand.". I replied "Yep - I agree, so won't be available this weekend. Hope you understand".

For that one, I would have been away for two weeks - so would have needed to find somewhere to wash, dry and iron my clothes (or buy new ones), and wouldn't see the family. To make up for that, I'd need to take them on holiday, so would be looking to increase my income to cover that. Most clients won't pay that, so I tend not to work weekends if it means another stay away.