Documenting MoO

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Did you read the thread?

Yes.

[Ticktock]

Did you read the thread?

I just read it and I think your explanation needs a slight rewording to clarify, just because of the word "gig".

From what Incognito said, MoO is not about you deciding that you want a day off, or the client saying "don't come in until Wednesday" if the task(s) you have been contracted to complete have not been completed yet.
It also doesn't mean that when you come to the end of your contract you do not need to accept another contract, and that the client doesn't have to offer another contract (that's just common sense).
However, if you have been given a 3 month contract which says, e.g. "update our phone book" and you finish that in the first 2 months, then MoO means that they do not have to give you any further tasks - if they do, you do not have to accept them.

By "gig" I wasn't sure whether you were referring to "3 month contract", "update our phone book" or "3 month contract to update our phonebook", but I took it to be the first.

EDIT: Actually, re-reading, it appears it does also include not offering a new contract, as well as new work within your current period of engagement.

[northernladuk]

Why? MoO is about the offering and acceptance of work - if the OP has no contractual obligation to accept work if it is offered then it is relevant.

Did you read the thread?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Here you go....

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...ination-2.html

It's good to document this type of thing but it isn't MoO....

Why? MoO is about the offering and acceptance of work - if the OP has no contractual obligation to accept work if it is offered then it is relevant.

[northernladuk]

Here you go....

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...ination-2.html

It's good to document this type of thing but it isn't MoO....

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

You are demonstrating that you have the autonomy within your business to be able to decide your own work schedules so I would have thought an email as you described is a good idea. The email from them IMHO not so good as it demonstrates supervision and direction

[northernladuk]

You are making the mistake I made. That isn't MoO but it is demonstrating risk and loss.

MoO is about them offering you work after the current gig. Not about offering you work day to day in the one you are in. We had a long thread on this recently and I believe Incognito pointed this out. Will have a look for it.

If the client says what you put in your second example I would print that out. Getting them to word your mail telling you not to work over xmas is a good one as well.

[scooby]

So should would you go about documenting this?

Personally, i just send an email in the morning or day before saying "I'm not playing tomorrow, it's a quiet day so I'm off to work on my other project". Is that enough for HMRC?

I suppose the best defence and example would be the client saying "Leave it tomorrow, it's quiet, come back Wednesday"?

Thoughts?