Reply to: Asked to start work before contract start date

[codeseo]

If it were me, then I would want a contract in place to cover the period that I was intending to work and invoice for.

[kaiser78]

I would attend and charge, as it shows keenness on your part. As worst, all you will lose if 1 days pay if goes t*its up.
Certainly wouldn't do it without charging as suggested by GillsMan.

[Rob P]

Lucky you! My start date as per the written contract was two weeks ago and they have put me back and put me back and I am still not working! Two weeks' revenue lost and counting!

But as long as you have it in writing that it is invoiceable, shouldn't be an issue? Or maybe even a day off in lieu? Might be useful in the run-up to Xmas.

[billybiro]

See no problem here, they've agreed to pay, and it shows good will to turn up. I think making a fuss about paperwork would just create an imperssion of "professional".

FTFY.

[7specialgems]

I have a dream contract with a well known private sector client. Great role, good rate. I have a signed contract but the start date is in a week's time. Despite this, I've been asked to come in for a day this week, ahead of my start date. It is for a planning meeting and will be paid at my contract rate. I have no issues about coming in - I cannot wait to get started. It is more of a legal concern - should I be on the client site when my contract doesn't start until next week and why would they do this - rather than wait a few days until my start date?

If the pimp is not onboard, no, I would say don't go in.

If the pimp is sensible he will have no complaints in bringing your start date forward by one day on the paperwork and helping himself to a slice of commission on your day rate for the extra day's work, formally, and the whole thing becomes a non-event.

[sal]

Depends on your role and impact/cost of you effing something up....

One of my gigs saw a contractor Dev with his hands in FO Prod systems during the trading day, my first IB gig was in the executive compensation systems with read-write access at all levels - I could have done some real damage there and I have done FOBO support for an app I could easily have disabled remotely.

I perfectly understand the amount of damage an IT person can inflict. The big question here is if you actually have to cash in on the policy how successful are you going to be? I bet that if it comes to 6 figures the Insurance company will use the little holes in the policy wording to shaft you. So personally i just watch what i'm doing and try not to screw up, rather than relying on my insurance and blind faith.

But it's all about weighting the risk. An easy reference can be made to car insurance, how many out there will keep paying for insurance if it wasn't required by law?

[Dallas]

Depends on your role and impact/cost of you effing something up....

One of my gigs saw a contractor Dev with his hands in FO Prod systems during the trading day, my first IB gig was in the executive compensation systems with read-write access at all levels - I could have done some real damage there and I have done FOBO support for an app I could easily have disabled remotely.

[sal]

I don't understand one thing - why there are so many people soiling their pants out of fear of invalidating their insurances by completing work for the client outside of the period in the written contract. Now i'm not that verse in British law but as far as i remember it's a derivative of the Roman law and even a verbal agreement can be considered binding. So if both parties agree that you can start working earlier even if it was only a phone conversation it's as good as written contract.

Surely the policy should hold even without a written contract. I will confess that i have never read the insurance policy wording and only have the insurance in place because it's required by the customer / agency and not because i actually expect to cash in on it. The chances of you having to you use it are evident by the insurance premium where you pay like £200-300 for £5-10 Million of cover...

[TheFaQQer]

I have got insurance in place.

Does your insurance cover you for work that you do without having a contract? If you started work without a contract, would you be covered later?

Ring your insurance company and check - if they aren't going to cover you, you may as well cancel the policy and save some money.

Thanks all for the advice. I've decided to simply go ahead without amending the contract. Although some have sounded a note of caution, many have basically said - go for it and stop worrying about nothing!

Some said "avoid those 90% schemes, they'll hurt when you get caught" but many said "go for it, stop worrying".

Good luck with it.

[CalamityJane]

if you are shadowing/listening - you sign in as a guest

if you are talking or logging into anything - you need your insurance inplace at least ....

I have got insurance in place.

Thanks all for the advice. I've decided to simply go ahead without amending the contract. Although some have sounded a note of caution, many have basically said - go for it and stop worrying about nothing!

I can't wait to get stuck in but just wanted to sound out with you guys! Thanks all.

[northernladuk]

Personally, I'd attend and not charge, but that's just me.

+1 to that. I've been in to two clients for a day and two days before contract was sorted to get a hand over as they person I was replacing left before contract starts in both cases. Did me no harm at all. I got the two day one back billing for days I was unavailable as well so double bargain. Sometimes a bit of willing can pay back nicely.

[CalamityJane]

See no problem here, they've agreed to pay, and it shows good will to turn up. I think making a fuss about paperwork would just create an imperssion of "jobsworth".

Yes, that's my other thought!!

[BlasterBates]

See no problem here, they've agreed to pay, and it shows good will to turn up. I think making a fuss about paperwork would just create an imperssion of "jobsworth".

[Project Monkey]

Just change the start date for goodness sakes. Doesn't need to be a new draft of the contract docs, just an exchange of emails between yourself, agent and client agreeing to the change.

[Dallas]

if you are shadowing/listening - you sign in as a guest

if you are talking or logging into anything - you need your insurance inplace at least ....