Working Hours - Where Did My Life Go?

[Bagpuss]

I'm contracted to do 36.5, when I've done that I'm off

The permies here probably do 45 and they are contracted to do the same hours. It's all about culture. There are no fixed core hours here, it's up to the individual based on commitments, but everyone still acts with a 9-5:30 mentality.

Fools I tell ye!

[Chugnut]

European bank, non front office role. Its not really any different from working at BT to be honest.

I'd agree with this. I've worked for a few IB's now and you can't tar them all with the same brush.

Whether you have to work long days or get to leave bang on 8 hours entirely depends upon what role you're doing and how busy it is.

[gables]

.... I've been starting work at 8am (most contractors are already at their desks working when I arrive) and leaving work at about 7pm (most contractors are still at their desks working when I leave). Is this normal?

Are they getting paid by the hour by any chance?

[WetBehindTheEars]

Are they getting paid by the hour by any chance?

Nope - all on day rates. The project is coming to an end and will be down sizing. I'm guessing about 1/2 of the contractors will be cut. Everyone is trying to make sure it is not them who gets cut I think. I'll be cut for sure as I was last through the door. That's contracting I suppose. Got to look for work every 3-6 months - and Gordon Brown wants to tell me that I am the same as any other employee (IR35). WTF!

[wendigo100]

Got to look for work every 3-6 months

Don't worry, you'll get used to that after about 10 years.

[Chugnut]

If you know you're out the door, that the feck are you working those hours for?

No payee, no workee was always my attitude.

If you want my time, you fecking pay for it...

Do you invoice CUK for your posting time? You must be minted, Zeity.

[DodgyAgent]

I'm working for a Telco in the North of England. Don't want to say more than that in case someone figures out who I am. They will know it's me because I'm the lazy one who only works a 60 hour week.

I need some contracting experience under my belt so I'll stick it out. I don't really need the IT experience as I have over 10 years in IT.

I think the market in the North of England is quite poor. I was involved in the recruitment of contractors in my last perm job and for every position we received a sack full of applicants all of whom could "start immediately".

I was hoping I could stay in work just taking contracts that are commutable from home but I'm increasing thinking this is unlikely.

BT Newcastle? contractors supplied by Spring and others?

[Francko]

Is that true.

I have a crap rate, but I struggle to do 40 hours. I was wondering about going into an IB in London but my suspicion is that I might be expected to work hard. Would this be a correct assumption ?

Are you saying that they don't do long hours in Switzerland? In my impression, they indeed do so and they are even proud that they are wasting most of their life in the office. To me it's madness. But then again I think it doesn't depend on the country or sector. Some companies just want you to reject all of your personal life in favour of work.

Nonetheless, I have never seen anybody being fired-not renewed because he didn't put enough hours. The more hours you work the more ineffective you are and you might end up working more and doing less even on an absolute scale. Having said that, once you start having a bad reputation you might even work 24 hours but you are doomed to fail anyway.

For some jobs there might be an increased output if you stay longer though (example: support, whereby people need you at specific times and the longer you stay the more the chances you can be useful)....

[BlasterBates]

yup

I'll be disappearing soon for the weekend.

[Colemanisor]

If you know you're out the door, that the feck are you working those hours for?

No payee, no workee was always my attitude.

If you want my time, you fecking pay for it...

Amen to that brother