unplanned weekend work - what rate should I look for?

[Old Greg]

I would present it that you did them a huge favour and didn't stop to demand terms and conditions ironed out first. Appeal to their sense of decency.

[northernladuk]

While true, it is language they can understand.

It shows a premium on what you usually cost and is a sensible pair of multipliers to use.

Difficult one though.

True enough but I don't think you need multipliers. If someone is on £400 a day the options are 600 or 800. 800 will be very difficult for most clients to swallow and is a lot of wiggle room between 400 and 800 to use. Giving numbers might be another way of approaching it. I wouldn't put it past some client managers I have worked with to flatly refuse double time but accept £750

[psychocandy]

Two words - caller ID.

Agreed. Never let client phone you at the weekend.
Can guarantee they won't want to pay a premium rate also. They never do.

I had umpteen occasions on one contract where there was an 'emergency' on a friday that just had to be sorted at the weekend. I couldn't even get them to authorise a standard day rate for the saturday. Usually it then all calmed down and was no longer an emergency when they realised me working saturday would not be for free as they thought (and other contractor/permies often did).

[TykeMerc]

Tell him you are going to bill whatever you want and then start discussions. He has entered a grey area that hasn't been discussed so the ball is firmly in your court to start the negotiations off. You want £xxx for the day and then let them go sweat it out. Very little they can do bearing in mind you have done it.

Not true, the ball can be firmly in the clients court since the work is done and they can refuse flat out to pay any premium for it. Some clients would baulk at paying a proportion of the day rate.
It's pretty much vital to lay the payment ground rules before the work is done, after the fact you're looking at good will.

[northernladuk]

Not true, the ball can be firmly in the clients court since the work is done and they can refuse flat out to pay any premium for it. Some clients would baulk at paying a proportion of the day rate.
It's pretty much vital to lay the payment ground rules before the work is done, after the fact you're looking at good will.

Hmmm. A good argument and you could be right. Just comes down to individual clients and the size of the contractors cojones I guess. Both are strong arguments. I still think the contractor has a stronger one legally but will never go that far so a moot point I guess.

[Pondlife]

I would present it that you did them a huge favour and didn't stop to demand terms and conditions ironed out first. Appeal to their sense of decency.

WHS. (Using W+initials+S gets filtered)

I would make sure they're aware that they owe you one. Also, I don't think that invoicing based on some multiplier is going to work unless it's in the contract. At best I'd invoice for a standard day plus total travel time.

[DirtyDog]

Hmmm. A good argument and you could be right. Just comes down to individual clients and the size of the contractors cojones I guess. Both are strong arguments. I still think the contractor has a stronger one legally but will never go that far so a moot point I guess.

Disagree completely - if that was true, then I'd work a weekend, rely on the rate not being in the contract, and then billing them £1billion for working that day.

You go with what is in the contract - if there is nothing in there for working non-standard hours, then you either agree beforehand, or bill at the standard rate.

[northernladuk]

Disagree completely - if that was true, then I'd work a weekend, rely on the rate not being in the contract, and then billing them £1billion for working that day.

You go with what is in the contract - if there is nothing in there for working non-standard hours, then you either agree beforehand, or bill at the standard rate.

I thought the law was in the favour of the person that is losing out. The client has had his work, the contractor hasn't had his money so the bias would be the contractor in a case such as this. Purely hypothetical as no one would be stupid enough to take an issue like this legal.

[DirtyDog]

I thought the law was in the favour of the person that is losing out. The client has had his work, the contractor hasn't had his money so the bias would be the contractor in a case such as this. Purely hypothetical as no one would be stupid enough to take an issue like this legal.

Assuming that's true (and I don't know whether it is or isn't)...

If the client pays the standard rate, then you would have to prove that you are losing out. So the question comes down to what basis are you using to decide whether you are losing out or not - what you want, or what the contract says you are entitled to get?

Assuming that there is nothing referenced in the contract, then you might possibly be able to argue that morally you be paid a different rate for the work ("I wouldn't have done it for the standard rate"). Legally, though, you aren't going to win that argument.

[d000hg]

Unless it's discussed in advance, there's no reason you would charge other than your daily rate IMO, certainly for working on Saturday.