Contract terminated, options?

[eek]

With my client, if the W meant "as in the office but at home", then that'd usually mean in the coffee area having discussions about various projects., and about 2 hours doing anything tangible.. I get much more done working from home. We're not all under direction and control like you.

+1
office = meetings
home = actual doing what needs to be done

the idea that anyone would willingly spend time in an office with multiple distractions is a complete No no to me nowadays.

I would probably have teams open but there are days when that will be switched to busy - computer would skill be on with mouse thingy keeping everything alive.

[Wobblyheed]

I was dumped by a government dept in Newcastle with no notice for nipping home (40 minute round trip) to get my glasses (which I had forgotten that morning). I should not have gone off site without permission apparently. Top and bottom of it - public sector (especially this govt dept) don't like contractors who used to be permies (albeit 30 years ago) coming back and flaunting their nice cars and contractor wealth Couple of months later all the other contractors were suddenly declared inside IR35 after 12 months of being outside. Pathetic...

[BrilloPad]

Did they honour your notice period when terminated ?


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You mean the one where they were not obliged to offer any work?

[GhostofTarbera]

You mean the one where they were not obliged to offer any work?

That’s the one


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[krytonsheep]

So that I could get some work done! That’s kinda the main reason for working out of office, you don’t get constantly pestered by those IMs, emails, people turning up at your desk etc. etc....

I'm sure if you ran the public sector contract you had through Google Translate it will come out with a single line:

"We pay you money, in exchange for you placing your rear exterior on one of our fine, health and safety approved office chairs."

[BolshieBastard]

I was dumped by a government dept in Newcastle with no notice for nipping home (40 minute round trip) to get my glasses (which I had forgotten that morning). I should not have gone off site without permission apparently. Top and bottom of it - public sector (especially this govt dept) don't like contractors who used to be permies (albeit 30 years ago) coming back and flaunting their nice cars and contractor wealth Couple of months later all the other contractors were suddenly declared inside IR35 after 12 months of being outside. Pathetic...

LOL and rightly so. Didnt you think it would be in the least bit polite to say, "Sorry, Im really going to struggle to get some work done because Ive left my glasses at home which I need. Im \ you're ok with me nipping home, only take me 40 minutes to get them?"

Yeah right, we're outside IR35 so we can come and go as we please, blah, blah, blah.

It seems to me the OP who got canned didnt play by the client's WFH rules. Irrespective of whether you dont want to be disturbed, the client wants to know you're at hand. WTF should they have to phone you? You'd probably bellyache at that intrusion.

I WFH for one client after a Sunday evening install didnt go to plan so did the work from home on the Monday. I was repeatedly being ping'd by 4 'managers' of the client asking if Id started, was there any problems, how was it going etc.

I had to reply to them saying, Im not able to crack on because Ive 3 other 'manager's pinging me repeatedly asking the very same questions!

At the same client, a good contractor who'd worked with them for numerous repeat engagements got walked off site for WFH without authorisation.

It doesnt matter whether you're an inside or outside contractor, you have to play by the rules if you dont want the risk of being canned.

[northernladuk]

LOL and rightly so. Didnt you think it would be in the least bit polite to say, "Sorry, Im really going to struggle to get some work done because Ive left my glasses at home which I need. Im \ you're ok with me nipping home, only take me 40 minutes to get them?"

Yeah right, we're outside IR35 so we can come and go as we please, blah, blah, blah.

It seems to me the OP who got canned didnt play by the client's WFH rules. Irrespective of whether you dont want to be disturbed, the client wants to know you're at hand. WTF should they have to phone you? You'd probably bellyache at that intrusion.

I WFH for one client after a Sunday evening install didnt go to plan so did the work from home on the Monday. I was repeatedly being ping'd by 4 'managers' of the client asking if Id started, was there any problems, how was it going etc.

I had to reply to them saying, Im not able to crack on because Ive 3 other 'manager's pinging me repeatedly asking the very same questions!

At the same client, a good contractor who'd worked with them for numerous repeat engagements got walked off site for WFH without authorisation.

It doesnt matter whether you're an inside or outside contractor, you have to play by the rules if you dont want the risk of being canned.

The rules as you've explained them there are tantamount to Direction and Control.

I think you are talking about professional courtesy rather than rules and then what you said would still be correct but more IR35 friendly

[Contra42]

It always fascinates me how many different approaches people have to, well anything. Lots of interesting and fundamentally different viewpoints expressed here.

I myself have always been more interested in the working practices aspect of contracting then any financial benefit. I’ve found that in my roles I am best able to serve my Clients by being seen to be somewhat independent, autonomous but also a team player when circumstances require it; I’m usually bought in to help organisations that are either going through some sort of transformation or are failing to deliver (often due to cultural issues). I’ve invariable found that one of the biggest obstacles to fixing the organisation is the number of people simply ‘working the system’, ‘playing the game’ or ‘following the rules’; the lack of dynamism that such behaviour engenders effectively kills an organisations ability to adapt within modern delivery timescales. I choose to lead by example and educate a client into better ways of working while respecting that others may disagree.

I would say that I believe that contracting as a whole is diminished if people take the approach to not push back against clients who try to impose working practices that are contrary to the spirit of being outside IR35.

[gables]

It always fascinates me how many different approaches people have to, well anything. Lots of interesting and fundamentally different viewpoints expressed here.

I myself have always been more interested in the working practices aspect of contracting then any financial benefit. I’ve found that in my roles I am best able to serve my Clients by being seen to be somewhat independent, autonomous but also a team player when circumstances require it; I’m usually bought in to help organisations that are either going through some sort of transformation or are failing to deliver (often due to cultural issues). I’ve invariable found that one of the biggest obstacles to fixing the organisation is the number of people simply ‘working the system’, ‘playing the game’ or ‘following the rules’; the lack of dynamism that such behaviour engenders effectively kills an organisations ability to adapt within modern delivery timescales. I choose to lead by example and educate a client into better ways of working while respecting that others may disagree.

I would say that I believe that contracting as a whole is diminished if people take the approach to not push back against clients who try to impose working practices that are contrary to the spirit of being outside IR35.

Indeed, but not saying this of you, the above can all be done whilst being polite and courteous. The whole "I'm a contractor so will choose where and what hours\when I work", which you hear so often on this forum applies only in the selection of a contract. After that it's done in agreement (not by control by the client) with the client on how best to deliver your service.

[Contra42]

Indeed, but not saying this of you, the above can all be done whilst being polite and courteous. The whole "I'm a contractor so will choose where and what hours\when I work", which you hear so often on this forum applies only in the selection of a contract. After that it's done in agreement (not by control by the client) with the client on how best to deliver your service.

I totally agree, that’s what being a professional entails. However for agreement to be achievable there has to be mutuality, if the client simply imposes working restrictions with the threat of termination for non-compliance then no amount of politeness is going to get you an agreement.