as a contractor, is it normal . . .

[monkey]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on
to be expected to use your own laptop
to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
and to expect to get sacked each evening

?

[milanbenes]

as long as...

the client is renting your laptop to the project at a cost of circa 250 Euros per month

the daily rate for the 9 hour day is equal to 9 times your normal hourly rate for an eight hour day

then yes this is acceptable

Milan.

[xoggoth]

Yes to the first anyhow. I have been here 3 months and I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing or what the company does. They have tried telling me once or twice but I wasn't really interested.

[Bovvered]

then yes this is acceptable

Monkey, is this your first contract? As milan says, yes it is acceptable, but they're not all that bad! You may find you next contract is an easy ride. At least you have variety, unlike a permie!

[voron]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on

That's a requirement for public sector contracting.

I found out this morning there is a programme I am meant to deliver. Buggers could have warned me, I've been posting crap on this forum for six months

[DimPrawn]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on
to be expected to use your own laptop
to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
and to expect to get sacked each evening

?

My current contract meets all those criteria.

[monkey]

cheers guys

yup is 1st contract.

pros & cons. dosh is great but i have been stiffed for the extra hour. we started off with an hourly rate that was 'agreed' then they wanted to change it to daily and i wanted the gig. sure it's an old story. so i could:
a) mention it & possibly get canned as have only been here 2 wks.
b) wait until i've got it all sussed & then mention it
c) speak to the agent
d) get over it & take long lunches.

wrt laptop - didn't know if most contractors use their own or if is taking the piss.

the other 2 i can get over. i always think i'm going to get sacked, perm or contract & i rarely have a clue what's going on.

[Bagpuss]

Monkey I'd have a word with tripitaka, he/she knows a thing or two. Failing that I'g get on your cloud and zip right out of there.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Yes to the first anyhow. I have been here 3 months and I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing or what the company does. They have tried telling me once or twice but I wasn't really interested.

Excellent Xogggoth, thats the kind of attitude which wins those renewals,I find tutting when asked to something quite effective as well ...

[voron]

i always think i'm going to get sacked, perm or contract & i rarely have a clue what's going on.

You are a contractor, not a permie. Therefore you cannot be sacked, although you can have your contract terminated. That might sound like simple semantics but it's actually a mindset.

As for the second, that's pretty common. Permie management frequently fails to share important information with contractors (or permie staff). It's also comon for them to not understand what they need done; rather they have some vague idea that a contractor is needed and they will magically make the world right (hey, that's my last contract!).