Working from home/4 days out of 5 etc - when to raise with client

[psychocandy]

The majority of Testing contracts I had involved being on site, I have been fortunate enough to work from home on some of them but as the NLUK said the de facto standard is generally on site working. Even when I have WFH it was because I had them over a barrel as I was the only one who could do the work at that time.

Same with support/sys admin. Defacto is on site. I have WFH in the past on long contracts for the odd day but thats it.

I'm hoping they 'might' go for the work from other office for few days a week maybe.

[Ticktock]

Generally, end client is paying consultancy to have person in plain view.....

Different role, but the work I've had through a consultancy has been based on WFH being the norm, and going on site when required - and the consultancy raised that before I asked.

I'm minded to mention this fact to them soon (interview lined up) rather than wait. As someone said, if they say no then I can't do a mon-fri long office hours at their further away office anyway so nothing lost.

If the work is through a consultancy I'd discuss with them, rather than the client - the consultancy have the contract and the relationship with the client, you are representing them. Or is the interview with the consultancy?

[psychocandy]

Different role, but the work I've had through a consultancy has been based on WFH being the norm, and going on site when required - and the consultancy raised that before I asked.



If the work is through a consultancy I'd discuss with them, rather than the client - the consultancy have the contract and the relationship with the client, you are representing them. Or is the interview with the consultancy?

Interview is with consultancy who are the end client. Just happens to working onsite at their client.

[psychocandy]

Seems to be more and more common these days. Contract is with a consultancy (via agency) but work is at their end client site.

Seems to make it more difficult to change working hours because end client is paying consultancy to see a face in the office every day it seems.

[socialworker]

It's a dull, old trope. Caused by jealousy, maybe?
Fact is I earn more than you, doing far less, at home.

You forgot to say "look at my wad!" "Loadsa money!!" Just make sure we got the message.

[d000hg]

Yes; be honest with what you want. Don't put yourself in a situation you'll later regret.

As far as the client is concerned they're not, they don't care about your personal circumstances. But they do care about money.

So put an offer on the table, whilst I'm working on site, my rate is A, and when I'm not my rate is B.

This is what I do, clients love it.

Has anyone else done this in real life? The London-based gig I mentioned in another thread raises this issue for me. I reckon a weekly commute to London is going to cost me £150-200pd (not prepared to live in a slum, not prepared to have a non-trivial commute when I'm already in London).

I mentioned in passing my preference to WFH to the agent, and I plan to bring it up in the phone interview, at least to make them aware rather than to demand anything.

Since rate needs to be high and I reckon they'll be stretched to meet it, I thought I'd use this as a lever to WFH. I was toying with 3 options:

1)I charge £Xpd, and an additional £Ypd for each day I have to be on site
2)WFH £Xpd, onsite £Ypd
3)£Xpd flat rate, but they pay all my travel and accomodation

They all work out roughly being the same thing of course, but is there a "done way" of doing this?

[Hairy]

It's a very simple thing to work out on any contract.

What I want = Mydayrate + (what I am having to spend extra / 5)

If you feel you deserve a pay rise, add some onto the mydayrate.

Then, discuss working from home after a week or so, and if it works out, you've upped your rate a bit, if not, you're covered...

[northernladuk]

It's a very simple thing to work out on any contract.

What I want = Mydayrate + (what I am having to spend extra / 5)

If you feel you deserve a pay rise, add some onto the mydayrate.

Then, discuss working from home after a week or so, and if it works out, you've upped your rate a bit, if not, you're covered...

All you have to do if you want a pay rise is speak to the director of your LTD.

[russell]

I work from home 2-3 days a week in my current contract, I negotiated this at the first renewal. I am thinking of making this a requirement for all future contracts. I just prefer it and work better without all the office distractions. However wondering what a good justification is other than I like it better. I would think about offering discounted rate for WFH.

[d000hg]

It's a very simple thing to work out on any contract.

What I want = Mydayrate + (what I am having to spend extra / 5)

If you feel you deserve a pay rise, add some onto the mydayrate.

Then, discuss working from home after a week or so, and if it works out, you've upped your rate a bit, if not, you're covered...

In my case I fear they won't want/be able to pay the full rate I'd want to have me onsite all week so it could genuinely be win-win.