How do you deal with forced time off?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

If you are a contractor and you could do with the money, you are not earning enough.

I think you need to think about what you need to do to move up the food chain.
It sounds like you don't have a war chest, which is very dangerous in contracting, as it forces you to take a low rate.

You need to change your focus, it's not about what the client are doing to you, it's about what you can do for a client, and how much they will pay you for it.

HTH

I have had a pretty good warchest for a while, but just about to buy a house which is going to seriously depleet my reserves.... I am on 3 x what I used to earn as a permie. But I am sure you all know how expensive life gets as you get older.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

WSCS +1 BT did the same to all it's contractors in Global Services shortly before they started binning them off. Enforced 2 weeks leave over the Christmas period, specifically quoting the need to meet financial targets as the reason. Three months after that they started cutting contractors wholesale across the business.

Exactly what I was thinking. Anyway I have a couple of interviews lined up so hopefully that is a Plan B. I need to get cracking on a long term Plan B though as others were saying.....

[oscarose]

I am on 3 x what I used to earn as a permie.

Just over £18/hour then?

[SupremeSpod]

Just under £18/hour then?

Bloody hell, I'm on more than that and I'm a permy!

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Just over £18/hour then?

As a permie around that figure......

[SimonMac]

I have never been in this situation before where I am forced to take time off (other than being benched) but I suppose I will begrudgingly accept it, mutter under my breath at the PM and whinge about it on an anonymous internet forum

[alreadypacked]

I have had a pretty good warchest for a while, but just about to buy a house which is going to seriously depleet my reserves.... I am on 3 x what I used to earn as a permie. But I am sure you all know how expensive life gets as you get older.

Warchest != house deposit


HTH

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Warchest != house deposit


HTH

It will be depleeted but not gone.

[alreadypacked]

It will be depleeted but not gone.

Ok but what about the change of focus?

[Sockpuppet]

Which days? They can only enforce Monday and Tuesday, Shirley?

No, they can (and should) be able to enfore what ever days they like. Remember you're not a permie. Your a service provider.