Four-day workweek - your preference (mo-th / tu-fr)

[psychocandy]

I'm surprised more contractors don't work 4 day weeks - after you've been offered a renewal seems a perfect chance to negotiate this.

4 days working the hours for 5 days and billing for 5?
Or just billing 4 days and taking the hit?

Yeh I agree. I'd love to do. Current gig would pay more in 4 days by miles than others I've done 5 days for. Its just greed to work for the full 5 days.

One of the permies at client does it. No work friday. Hes off doing stuff every friday. Just says I can pay my bills on 4 days so why stress and work the 5? Good attitude that.

[psychocandy]

I tried this on a renewal with a 25% rise per day, so the cost was the same to the client, didn't work because they reckoned they'd be needing me in most Fridays, ho hum

Same total time spent in the office though? MAkes for 4 LONG days.

Saying that might work at client who expects long hours each day. Just say yeah I'll work 9/9.5 hours no problem then take one day per week off!

[psychocandy]

If your rate isn't high enough to survive on 4 billable days a week, something is wrong THe higher earning power of contracting is WHY I think we suit 4 day weeks so well.

But we're all too greedy and theres an aspect of make hay while the sun shines etc.

Different if you've got a HUGE warchest but even then you'd be thinking, I'll just top it up a bit more. Might as well.

[ChimpMaster]

But we're all too greedy and theres an aspect of make hay while the sun shines etc.

Different if you've got a HUGE warchest but even then you'd be thinking, I'll just top it up a bit more. Might as well.

Depends on your idea of what a HUGE warchest is. £50k might do a single person who has no commitments, whereas £300k might not be enough for a married person with 2 or 3 kids and possibly at the end-of-life product contracting.

Greed isn't always the factor. Income on the table and warchest in the bank is more the security blanket for many contractors, because you just don't know where the next contract will come from, or if it will be worth taking, or it might be too far away and you don't want to be away from family. So - why not exhaust as much as you can from the cow that's cashing out right now, and then you will have the freedom of choice later.

Everything in perspective though. And it's easy to lose perspective, so you have to tether yourself to what is really important in life and remind yourself what it's all for. After all, we won't live forever.

[psychocandy]

Depends on your idea of what a HUGE warchest is. £50k might do a single person who has no commitments, whereas £300k might not be enough for a married person with 2 or 3 kids and possibly at the end-of-life product contracting.

Greed isn't always the factor. Income on the table and warchest in the bank is more the security blanket for many contractors, because you just don't know where the next contract will come from, or if it will be worth taking, or it might be too far away and you don't want to be away from family. So - why not exhaust as much as you can from the cow that's cashing out right now, and then you will have the freedom of choice later.

Everything in perspective though. And it's easy to lose perspective, so you have to tether yourself to what is really important in life and remind yourself what it's all for. After all, we won't live forever.

Exactly what I mean. Its hard to turn down money now because you don't know whats around the corner.

Probably a bit of confidence in yourself needed. Knowing that you can get something else if current gig ends unexpectedly.