WFH - if agreed do you insist its in contract?

[psychocandy]

+1 on this.
I personally class that as a major 'no-no' to be honest, and prefer to build up to that sort of thing as the business relationship & mutual trust develops.
If I was a hiring manager the last thing I'd want is a potential 'hiree' asking at interview about WFH. ...I'd be thinking 'FFS get out of my office & send the next one in on your way out'

Seems to be differing opinions on this issue. Like I said, they brought it up.

Yes maybe if they really want someone mon-fri 9-5 then thats up to them, isnt it? Nothing ventured nothing gained - Im not interested anyway if its mon-fri 9-5 on site.

[northernladuk]

Seems to be differing opinions on this issue. Like I said, they brought it up.

Yes maybe if they really want someone mon-fri 9-5 then thats up to them, isnt it? Nothing ventured nothing gained - Im not interested anyway if its mon-fri 9-5 on site.

I think if that is the case to save your time and theirs you need to ask the question before interview and make it clear you want it contracted and it's non negotiable and not flexible. I would think it is going to be very difficult to find a gig like that.

Even if I did find a client that let me WFH I have to expect that they may withdraw that option depending on work loads or demands on the project. We are after all a flexible workforce and WFH tends to be very much a benefit to the contractor.

[kingcook]

I think it would probably depending on the type of contract.

All of my contracts have been where I get paid a daily rate for working on some project, so in my mind the client want to see me there working.

If someone agreed to complete a project at a fixed price, I suppose the client couldn't give a monkeys where that someone did the work. The majority of time would be spent WFH, except of course in situations where face 2 face would be ideal like meetings for instance.

[quackhandle]

A line manager at one of my prev clients has this in his contract as they wanted him to take a rate cut so he got 2d wfh in his contract.

It pi$$ed off a few permies in the team who would sometimes not bother to tell anyone they were also WFH.

I've never insisted it in contract but I'd say it's a nice to have but never bank on it.

qh

[psychocandy]

I think it would probably depending on the type of contract.

All of my contracts have been where I get paid a daily rate for working on some project, so in my mind the client want to see me there working.

If someone agreed to complete a project at a fixed price, I suppose the client couldn't give a monkeys where that someone did the work. The majority of time would be spent WFH, except of course in situations where face 2 face would be ideal like meetings for instance.

In my experience too, clients want to see you there on site.

[psychocandy]

I think if that is the case to save your time and theirs you need to ask the question before interview and make it clear you want it contracted and it's non negotiable and not flexible. I would think it is going to be very difficult to find a gig like that.

Even if I did find a client that let me WFH I have to expect that they may withdraw that option depending on work loads or demands on the project. We are after all a flexible workforce and WFH tends to be very much a benefit to the contractor.

I think both parties are aware of the way it needs to work if its going to work. And this was discussed as the way it would work rather than something that would change.

Of course, no promises the client won't suddenly say thats it no more WFH but then they know that'll pretty much be the end of it if that happens.

[Damon]

I have WFH on my last 4 contracts. I work in FS industry so it is quite common practice amongst the permanent staff.

To achieve this:

1. Discuss it with the Agent before any interview. They will normally mention it to the client too so it softens the impact when I bring it up
2. Be upfront with the client about it in the first interview
3. If offered remind the agent that once delivery and trust in place you will be doing it

Wait till you are onsite and judge when to go for it. Some sites it has been a few weeks but this week I started a new gig on Tuesday and am WFH today as it is common place in the organisation

[psychocandy]

I have WFH on my last 4 contracts. I work in FS industry so it is quite common practice amongst the permanent staff.

To achieve this:

1. Discuss it with the Agent before any interview. They will normally mention it to the client too so it softens the impact when I bring it up
2. Be upfront with the client about it in the first interview
3. If offered remind the agent that once delivery and trust in place you will be doing it

Wait till you are onsite and judge when to go for it. Some sites it has been a few weeks but this week I started a new gig on Tuesday and am WFH today as it is common place in the organisation

This is FS too.

1. Agent tried to put me off. I guess they don;t care and dont want you to say anything that'll put client off.

2. They brought it up in phone interview. I was upfront.

[SueEllen]

I've never insisted it was in a contract. Often the client has brought it up with me at interview.

It has caused some interesting situations where some client management weren't allowed to work from home but all the contractors on the projects they were in charge of helping to deliver were within reason.

[psychocandy]

Cheers all. I'm just concerned about turning up and then no-one bothering to get off their arse to get the remote access sorted.

IMHO once you're there no-ones bothered abotu sorting things like this out.