Contractor envy

[gingerjedi]

I am going to suggest that about 10 percent of permies have issues with working with contractors, depending on the gig, the client and the role it varies but 10 percent would be a software industry standard amount I would say.

Narky little comments mostly, envy of the day rate.

Concur?

A little bit like a Scotsman commenting on English football.

Concur?

[oscarose]

A little bit like a Scotsman commenting on English football.

Concur?

+1

[garethevans1986]

Current ClientCo isnt bothered, IT director is a d1ck, the IT team I know are good fellas as I used to work for ClientCo in 2011 as a perm employee so know all of them.....one of the other devs just likes to blame everything on me anyway - the git.

GE

[NotAllThere]

I get the occasional comment, but frankly couldn't care less. When they need me to do something, they're as nice as 3.14157926...

[Mich the Tester]

Current ClientCo isnt bothered, IT director is a d1ck, the IT team I know are good fellas as I used to work for ClientCo in 2011 as a perm employee so know all of them.....one of the other devs just likes to blame everything on me anyway - the git.

GE

I've been through that; got myself some business cards printed with "Professional Scapegoat" as job title, and left a few lying around the office. A few days later ClientCo's IT Manager came to me and said he'd found out why I did that by asking around; permie was moved to another department.

Not recommending that course of action though unless you know that someone senior at ClientCo likes you.

[psychocandy]

Some of them do it for their families I suppose, kids, wife, home, I get that.

It is the, as you describe ,"I love client co with all my heart, I will thrown myself under a bus to stop them throwing me under the bus" types that go for this nonsense. Just cannot understand the weakness, the levels they go to, prostrations and arse licking.

Used to work with a guy like this - good mate of mine. He even once cancelled his family holiday at short notice because they asked him to.

Having been made redundant a few times I used to tell him not to do it but he wouldnt listen. Then got made redundant same day as me. In fact, they didnt even bother to do the redundancy properly - they found some bulltulip imagined disciplinary reason for each person they wanted to get rid off and then told them if they didnt agree to accept a compromise agreement they'd suspend person and try to get them sacked with nothing. Of course, it was better to just take the cash.

Nice company. Turns out they had even asked those who they planned to stay for dirt on those they wanted to get rid of. Company went bust a year or so later to my delight.

[DodgyAgent]

The biggest mistake I ever made was to turn up at a client site to take a contractor out for lunch in a brand new Porsche.

Those were the days! Now when I turn up in my Mondeo contractors offer to pay for the petrol

[SunnyInHades]

When I was permy a few years ago I used to really hate contractors when I learnt the rate they were getting - permy colleagues also used to openly make ‘other half live’, ‘contractor scum’ etc. remarks in the office at the bullying expense of the contractors.

Now contracting I see exactly that ‘bullying/jealous’ attitude from the other side. Can be tough if you’r the only contractor in an office of permies (as I’ve been at times), the rate gets you though it.

[doodab]

I've never had any of this as a contractor. They are probably too busy envying my sparkling wit, good looks and charm to worry about what I earn. Plus I manage to look poor by dressing scruffily and not getting my hair cut to often.

[garethevans1986]

I've been through that; got myself some business cards printed with "Professional Scapegoat" as job title, and left a few lying around the office. A few days later ClientCo's IT Manager came to me and said he'd found out why I did that by asking around; permie was moved to another department.

Not recommending that course of action though unless you know that someone senior at ClientCo likes you.

It's all tongue in cheek but I see your point.

GE