How to Approach 'Paternity' Time Off With Potential Clients?

[northernladuk]

I wouldn't (and didn't) want to be working with a client who expected me to prioritise their project over my family life. They knew the situation from the start and accepted it - if they had said "that won't work because we have to complete the work within that timescale" then I wouldn't have chosen to work with them.

That's fine but the way it read in the original post was that you don't want to work for them as in the client are at fault or are a bad client. That is the bit I don't agree with. If you didn't mean it that way then fair enough. You choosing not to work with them is fine. To say you shouldn't want to work with a client with that attitude isn't.

You might employ the best plumber in the world and let's assume you are the best customer in the world. Plumber says he wants three weeks off to have time with his new child then the deal just doesn't work so you don't engage. No reflection on either of you. It's not a matter of you don't want to employ that plumber because you don't agree with him having time off and he shouldn't think you are an arse for turning him down. It just didn't work.

Apologies if we are on the same page here but that's not how the comment read.

[MyUserName]

I went through this in my first contract. Would have two weeks there and then two weeks off when my son was born. After they were interested I told the agent to check with them and she said she had spoken to them and it was fine. Showed up on my first day and mailed my manager the exact dates, he came over and had no idea what I was talking about. Agent had not said a word. Luckily it was fine and he did not mind.

If I had this again I would tell the client after they have offered and ask whether it is a problem. If it is then you are out anyway, if not if gives them a chance to plan for it.

[northernladuk]

I went through this in my first contract. Would have two weeks there and then two weeks off when my son was born. After they were interested I told the agent to check with them and she said she had spoken to them and it was fine. Showed up on my first day and mailed my manager the exact dates, he came over and had no idea what I was talking about. Agent had not said a word. Luckily it was fine and he did not mind.

If I had this again I would tell the client after they have offered and ask whether it is a problem. If it is then you are out anyway, if not if gives them a chance to plan for it.

Wow, that's a bit underhand isn't it. Lucky the client didn't mind but would have been interesting to see a case where the agent does this and the contractor get's walked. Got to be a legal case there surely?

[Hireonomy]

I honestly don't get all the "don't tell the agent" stuff that gets bandied around on this and other threads.

You must have a really REALLY low opinion of Agents or have worked with some god awful ones in the past.

We ask for, and are told, of any upcoming holidays and this has never impacted on submission or otherwise of a candidate.

Just yesterday I put forward a candidate for a gig. He's interviewing tomorrow and going on hols 1-16 July. I notified the client and they moved things around to fit him in tomorrow with a view to 2nd interviewing and offering (if suitable) before he goes on the 1st.

[MicrosoftBob]

Tell the client NOT the agency at interview the baby is due at the beginning of October and you are taking holiday then, so when s/he turns up a week or so "early" act surprised. Remember babies don't turn up on time.

They can still act annoyed because you don't want the time off for when you planned it, I had a client get the hump and I only took 3 days off and still worked a half day when my son was born and they still whinged about not giving enough notice about the change of date

[northernladuk]

I honestly don't get all the "don't tell the agent" stuff that gets bandied around on this and other threads.

You must have a really REALLY low opinion of Agents or have worked with some god awful ones in the past.

I don't get some of the crap that contractors come out with on here as well and although it's annoying to be associated with them looking at the bollocks then come out with but you have to admit not all agents maybe as straight down the line as you are and their interests are not completely aligned with yours.

It adds an element of risk which needs managing carefully and if that is to cut the middle man out of the conversation and speak to the client then so be it. They are the only two people that this situation affects so why introduce risk. Seems a fairly reasonable approach regardless of the quality of the agent.

[TheFaQQer]

I honestly don't get all the "don't tell the agent" stuff that gets bandied around on this and other threads.

You must have a really REALLY low opinion of Agents or have worked with some god awful ones in the past.

We ask for, and are told, of any upcoming holidays and this has never impacted on submission or otherwise of a candidate.

Just yesterday I put forward a candidate for a gig. He's interviewing tomorrow and going on hols 1-16 July. I notified the client and they moved things around to fit him in tomorrow with a view to 2nd interviewing and offering (if suitable) before he goes on the 1st.

I discuss with the agency all information that I think is relevant to them. There is no benefit in discussing things which aren't of any interest or relevance to them, though.

If I have any holiday booked during the proposed contract period, then I will raise this with the client at the interview stage, even if they haven't asked the question. I see this scenario as no different, really, apart from not having a definite date of absence.

[TheFaQQer]

That's fine but the way it read in the original post was that you don't want to work for them as in the client are at fault or are a bad client. That is the bit I don't agree with. If you didn't mean it that way then fair enough. You choosing not to work with them is fine. To say you shouldn't want to work with a client with that attitude isn't.

At no point have I said that it's anything to do with the attitude of the client - all I said was that "you may not want to work with them anyway".

If you cannot agree a sensible working environment and relationship, then you walk away from it. If the planned absence isn't suitable for the client, then you have a choice - you either take the contract, don't take the leave, and suffer the consequences of that at home, or you walk away and find a client who will accommodate those needs.

In the past, I've had a client asking about a three month role, but I had three weeks off in the middle of it - it didn't work out for them, so we didn't work together. I've also had clients accept that the three weeks off in the middle of the contract wasn't an issue, because they needed me either side of that gap.

[MyUserName]

Wow, that's a bit underhand isn't it. Lucky the client didn't mind but would have been interesting to see a case where the agent does this and the contractor get's walked. Got to be a legal case there surely?

Possibly, if you could prove things then I would not be surprised. I was very relieved that the client did not mind and did not think I was pulling fast one, it was still a little embarrassing though!

[Taita]

I don't agree with this at all. He might understand but if he is in a situation he needs a resource to complete a piece of work in a set timescale the arrangement just doesn't work. Nothing to do with the clients attitude and if they are worth working for.

Especially if is hiring a contractor to cover maternity leave!

The best test in cases like this is 'how would I feel if I were the client ?" Oh, and be honest with yourself in replying.