contractor acting like permie

[Pickle2]

The above also works well for IR35.

And makes you sound a complete tit

[Bright Spark]

And makes you sound a complete tit

only if you think like a permie, fact is your a business not a charity and your
sole purpose in life is to make money, that should never be forgotten.

[Ruprect]

Oh, and in reply to my own post. If its a budget / sign off issue, I have got round this in the past by working a saturday (say), then taking a monday (say) off. And then having client co manager sign a timesheet for the monday, but not the saturday.

for some reason, only beknown to client co, this was fine and everyone was happy. They got weekend cover, I got paid for my time.

TBH I think the client are just trying it on to start with. I'm not sure that they realistically expect us to work for nothing....trouble starts when one contractor says "yeah alright then I'll do it" as in this case... When PM said this, to which I replied "If I'm working, I'm billing", he said "I thought you'd say that" and said he'd pass the response back up the chain.

I have considered the day-in-lieu thing which is probably where the compromise will come if it comes to that. I don't work for nothing. that is for permies.

[GCR99]

I'm one of 5 contactors in a 7 person team. Client is at a stage where they need weekend support for the next 10 or so weekends. I've said that Myco can provide this as a billable service if required. TBH, one of the reasons I went contracting was to get away from b0llox like this. Inevitably one of the permies gets lumped with a load of this type of work, but now one of the other contractors is volunteering himself to do this free of charge. Not only do I think that this is a terrible precedent to be setting, it makes me look like a selfish twunt when I refuse to "muck in for the team".

I'm inclined to just say stuff it, that's the deal, like it or lump it. The client wouldn't pay me for work not done, so why should I work for what I know I won't be billing for? Or should I lump it for the sake of "good client relations"? I've tried subtly hinting to the other contractor that he should stand firm, but he isn't/won't.

Never, ever do anything without suitable remuneration. I heve never come across a company who expect out of hours\weekend support for nothing, and your "manager" should be ashamed for even contemplating that scenario. Just keep quiet and if he does bring up the subject again, tell him your services are available for support but not for free. The other guy will soon tire of answering the phone and dicking around with support on Sunday mornings when he getting nowt for it.

[chris79]

There are 2 choices here:-

1. Either do it free to match the guy in terms of what you are giving the client, and hopefully gain any benefits from doing this, such as contract renewal, opportunity, etc.


2. Refuse to do it for free, or refuse to do it at all, but run the risk of being overtaken in the pecking order by the others who are willing to do it, and in the worst case get no extension.


If it were me I would be choosing option #2 and just accept the consequences and find another gig. Does the prospect of this scare you? If so then go with option #1. What the other people do is up to them, it's not a case of acting like a permie, they are freelance just like you and can operate their business however they see fit.

Everyone has their own agenda and reasons behind what they do, just because it isn't to your liking doesn't mean it is wrong, perhaps the guy doing it sees it as a means of security or opportunity and is willing to sacrifice his weekends unpaid to achieve this? He has quite clearly chosen option 1, but by doing this you feel he has set a benchmark to which others including yourself will be judged. There is nothing you can do about this other than pick 1 of the 2 options, thats life and business.

[oracleslave]

2. Refuse to do it for free, or refuse to do it at all

That's the only viable option I can see.

[ratewhore]

And makes you sound a complete tit

WHS.

Do you really think the client is interested in any of that flannel?

[swamp]

You can always say you are unavailable at the weekends because you have other clients*

Tell them if and when you are free of your other commitments, you may be able to take on additional paid work



* yes you'll be lying (get over it), but who's to say you aren't knocking up a website for a mate, or fixing uncle Albert's computer...?

[Ruprect]

You can always say you are unavailable at the weekends because you have other clients*

Tell them if and when you are free of your other commitments, you may be able to take on additional paid work



* yes you'll be lying (get over it), but who's to say you aren't knocking up a website for a mate, or fixing uncle Albert's computer...?

Actually that's a very good point - which I may well wheel out (truthfully too!). Cheers.

[ratewhore]

I'm amazed contractors feel the need to justify themselves to the client...