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

[DirtyDog]

The problem is if you work from home and there are people about i.e. small children and all the couriers know you are in, you won't get any work done.

That's a management issue for you to resolve

I've worked from home for the past three years (with different clients), so my younger child was 4 when I started working from home. She and her elder sister know that they don't come up to the study until after 5pm (they only come up to tell me that tea is ready, unless it's really urgent), and they know that on the days that they are off school that I go upstairs after breakfast to work. They don't expect to interrupt me, although they like to see me at lunch, and it works fine.

On the rare occasions that I need to be doing non-work things for any significant amount of time (parent-teacher meetings, for example) then I think about how I am paid for a professional working day, and feel grateful that I can still see my family on occasion.

[MaryPoppins]

I've also noticed that women with kids around are better at ensuring you can't hear them on the phone.

Er, right!

[MaryPoppins]

That's a management issue for you to resolve

I've worked from home for the past three years (with different clients), so my younger child was 4 when I started working from home. She and her elder sister know that they don't come up to the study until after 5pm (they only come up to tell me that tea is ready, unless it's really urgent), and they know that on the days that they are off school that I go upstairs after breakfast to work. They don't expect to interrupt me, although they like to see me at lunch, and it works fine.

On the rare occasions that I need to be doing non-work things for any significant amount of time (parent-teacher meetings, for example) then I think about how I am paid for a professional working day, and feel grateful that I can still see my family on occasion.

Precisely. Any contractor worth their salt ensures they've made provisions to enable proper WFH. Attempting to WFH on an ongoing basis and look after kids sounds like a car crash.

[amcdonald]

I've never had a client mention MFH, and knowing I'm likely to be moving out to the stick assumed it was a rarity

[dogzilla]

MP is right of course, but I prefer the barrel approach.
i.e. get them over it then start humping

LOL quote of the week.

As someone who lives within 20 minutes of the city is pretty difficult to use the travel excuse as reason to wanting to wfh. I just ******* hate being in the office 5 days a week. Looking for that elusive contract where client is happy for me to wfh on a regular basis ie. 1 day a week at least.

[DimPrawn]

I work completely from home or not at all. Take it or leave it. Most take it.

HTH

What's your definition of work? Cleaning the cooker?

PS. Pocket money from SWMBO is not contracting.

HTH BIDI

[sasguru]

What's your definition of work? Cleaning the cooker?

PS. Pocket money from SWMBO is not contracting.

HTH BIDI

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

[The Spartan]

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.

[sasguru]

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.

That is generally the way with supply and demand.
Demand > Supply, you dictate the terms. And vice versa. Simples.

[scooterscot]

Anyone previous experience?

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.