Nothing Left to do - New contract

[curtis]

I have had this in a few jobs. I do bits and pieces and spend most of the time just sat there pretending to be busy which drives me nuts. A role last year for the first month I did about 3 hours work in total I felt like screaming some days!

There is only so long I can stand this kind of situation and for 4 months I would probably just do it and think of the money but would not be sure if I would take any extension. I am glad to be earning but I would rather be at home doing something more productive, in this situation it just feel its a waste of my time.

I have read a lot of of ebooks in these kind of jobs!!

[rurffy]

The main reason why i'm here its because of the boredom -

I have read alot of books but i keep switching screens when someone comes behind me ha!.. Anyways - the other funny this is - since i have been contracting - this is the higest DAY RATE ever for me! and boredom is supper aswell.

i remember when i was working in central london years ago - getting paid £150/day - everyday was busy .. great people to work with i didnt have to look at my clock. But well we are all in it for the money i presume

[MPwannadecentincome]

ask to work from home

[northernladuk]

If they're paying you when there's no work then that suggests employment and being inside IR35.

Totally this

If they're not called Pete it could get a bit tricky.

It can get a bit too much, you reach the point where reading blogs and forums (proper work ones, not CUK) becomes boring and you just have to find some other position or sit clock watching all day. It's one thing being self motivated but eventually the pointlessness of it all gets to you and even the occasional bit of real work becomes a chore.

Absolutely this. I remember once waiting for some work to start, weeks of creating powerpoints, cleaning up sharepoint etc and it dragged on and on and finally when the work got released I was bordering on useless. Just couldn't nail the work like I like to do. Not a piece of work I was proud of.


IMO if there is really nothing left to do then your work there is done. Look for a new gig, negotiate an exit that suits you with the client and leave. For sanity and your IR35's sake.

[psychocandy]

Been in gigs like this. Its all well and good thinking great I can do other stuff but it does do your head in eventually.

Sometimes amazes me why clients think they need an extra person/contractor. Many times I've got to site and not even had a PC/access for weeks. Then when you do no-one can be arsed to bother with you.

[rurffy]

Been in gigs like this. Its all well and good thinking great I can do other stuff but it does do your head in eventually.

Sometimes amazes me why clients think they need an extra person/contractor. Many times I've got to site and not even had a PC/access for weeks. Then when you do no-one can be arsed to bother with you.

Exactly!! - also been a small environment, theres little or nothing you could do. nothing to enhance or re-engineer - Anyways i guess i have to sit here till the last day Loads of money in my pocket anyway .

[SeekingIT]

Indeed!!!

This last bit is a weird but true one. I was in my first job for 2 years, but by the second year I could (at a push) easily get a weeks worth of work done in a day leaving me hours each week with nothing to do. At first I tried to fill my time, but by the time I needed to leave, I could barely be bothered to do the bare minimum. It's strange - the less you have to do, the more motivation it takes to do it!

This is So true........

[lukemg]

+1
Very hard to ramp up from doing nothing. Had lots of contracts like this, which kept getting extended.
Week or so after an extension, I happily go and see client, explain I am on top of current workload and happy to take on any additional work needed and not fussy what it is as long as I am helping out.
This has rarely (never)produced anything beyond a few extra bits and has never resulted in the contract finishing.
As one chap said, ok you only have half a workload but if you go I have to find someone to do that half and every perm says they are maxed out. Plus, keeping someone is a LOT easier than trying to get someone new in, get budget authorised, justify to seniors etc.
Coping strategy - wfh is obviously brilliant, after asking for extra work my conscience is clear so working hours get a big cut back (9-4 in one gig + played footy 2 lunchtimes a week). Long lunch likewise. Get a break booked a few months ahead (always helps you keep going). I monitor investments etc which helps too, learn some stuff etc.
I wouldn't chuck it back in unless I had a better option tho because no guarantee the next one is any different !!

[psychocandy]

+1
Very hard to ramp up from doing nothing. Had lots of contracts like this, which kept getting extended.
Week or so after an extension, I happily go and see client, explain I am on top of current workload and happy to take on any additional work needed and not fussy what it is as long as I am helping out.
This has rarely (never)produced anything beyond a few extra bits and has never resulted in the contract finishing.
As one chap said, ok you only have half a workload but if you go I have to find someone to do that half and every perm says they are maxed out. Plus, keeping someone is a LOT easier than trying to get someone new in, get budget authorised, justify to seniors etc.
Coping strategy - wfh is obviously brilliant, after asking for extra work my conscience is clear so working hours get a big cut back (9-4 in one gig + played footy 2 lunchtimes a week). Long lunch likewise. Get a break booked a few months ahead (always helps you keep going). I monitor investments etc which helps too, learn some stuff etc.
I wouldn't chuck it back in unless I had a better option tho because no guarantee the next one is any different !!

If you can WFH then you're sorted. If mgr is happy working is done then I guess they dont care what else you do.

Jeremy Kyle while you work?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Totally this







Absolutely this. I remember once waiting for some work to start, weeks of creating powerpoints, cleaning up sharepoint etc and it dragged on and on and finally when the work got released I was bordering on useless. Just couldn't nail the work like I like to do. Not a piece of work I was proud of.


IMO if there is really nothing left to do then your work there is done. Look for a new gig, negotiate an exit that suits you with the client and leave. For sanity and your IR35's sake.

Did NLUK just advise leaving contract before the end date?!