Reply to: Client dictating hours

[NotAllThere]

Especially when there are 2 of them by the same poster.

Good point. Thread locked.

[colinrobinson]

Contract just says 7.5 hours per day.
To be fair they mentioned the other hours at interview so fair enough. Its just a right PITA to be stuck doing 9-5.

Maybe I should start mentioning at interview. Always scared that it puts people off. MAkes you look like a bit of a clock watcher.

schedule a 5 min daily catchup meeting with manager @4:50, they are never 5 mins then string em out a bit they will soon get fed up.

[SueEllen]

I just love these threads where contractors claim client is 'dictating' hours!

Especially when there are 2 of them by the same poster.

[BolshieBastard]

I just love these threads where contractors claim client is 'dictating' hours!

[Haggisnneeps]

Complicated....

It's complicated.... not through an agency. I'm Ltd and i contract to a supplier who contract to the client but the client is talking to me direct as the shift/hour/day patterns are specific to us. I have emails /verbal meetings from both the client and the supplier confirming the shift change was OK initially/originally (to the earlier shift). Don't know if we want/need to involve the supplier as yet..

[FatLazyContractor]

My contract says 9-5. For project reasons etc we were asked to do earlier shifts. No problem. Better all round. Got an email and verbal meetings confirming this

few months later they now want to revert back to 9-5. Does the verbal agreement and email constitute an amendment to the original "wet signed" contract that allows me to decline their "offer" of different hours?

Is you contract with an agency? or are you contracting direct with the client?

[TykeMerc]

My contract says 9-5. For project reasons etc we were asked to do earlier shifts. No problem. Better all round. Got an email and verbal meetings confirming this

few months later they now want to revert back to 9-5. Does the verbal agreement and email constitute an amendment to the original "wet signed" contract that allows me to decline their "offer" of different hours?

No.

[SueEllen]

My contract says 9-5. For project reasons etc we were asked to do earlier shifts. No problem. Better all round. Got an email and verbal meetings confirming this

few months later they now want to revert back to 9-5. Does the verbal agreement and email constitute an amendment to the original "wet signed" contract that allows me to decline their "offer" of different hours?

Nope.

[Haggisnneeps]

Signed contract vs verbal / email "amendment"?

My contract says 9-5. For project reasons etc we were asked to do earlier shifts. No problem. Better all round. Got an email and verbal meetings confirming this

few months later they now want to revert back to 9-5. Does the verbal agreement and email constitute an amendment to the original "wet signed" contract that allows me to decline their "offer" of different hours?

[GillsMan]

Well lesson learnt thats for sure. Next time I'll go for interview with the attitude that if hours are important to me then its something thats got to be discussed whether it kills the gig or not.
This one is just about on the edge of my range so lack of flexibilty is now going to make it a right pain in the ass. 9-5 equals half my life stuck in the car now.... Hey ho my fault of course.

I just assumed that since client had mentioned the fixed hours they'd be flexible on the rest. Turns out not. Looks like contractors are there to do the fixed hours to allow the permies flexibilty. Hate it when that happens.

Nearly xmas - 8 weeks to go after that. Lets just say any acceptance of renewal if offered will be dependant on a few changes if they want me to stay.

You are PC's sockie and I claim my £5.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Well lesson learnt thats for sure. Next time I'll go for interview with the attitude that if hours are important to me then its something thats got to be discussed whether it kills the gig or not.
This one is just about on the edge of my range so lack of flexibilty is now going to make it a right pain in the ass. 9-5 equals half my life stuck in the car now.... Hey ho my fault of course.

I just assumed that since client had mentioned the fixed hours they'd be flexible on the rest. Turns out not. Looks like contractors are there to do the fixed hours to allow the permies flexibilty. Hate it when that happens.

Nearly xmas - 8 weeks to go after that. Lets just say any acceptance of renewal if offered will be dependant on a few changes if they want me to stay.

[SueEllen]

Contract just says 7.5 hours per day.
To be fair they mentioned the other hours at interview so fair enough. Its just a right PITA to be stuck doing 9-5.

Maybe I should start mentioning at interview. Always scared that it puts people off. MAkes you look like a bit of a clock watcher.

It depends on how you bring it up. You need to make it part of the chat about how they work on that particular project.

[paulinefowlersgrowler]

Contract just says 7.5 hours per day.
To be fair they mentioned the other hours at interview so fair enough. Its just a right PITA to be stuck doing 9-5.

Maybe I should start mentioning at interview. Always scared that it puts people off. MAkes you look like a bit of a clock watcher.

[BolshieBastard]

Well that sounds like bollocks for starters.

What the exact wording is, is down to the individual. The point is, you're setting expectations and some ground rule so no stuck up permie 'line manager' or even contract 'line manager' starts the old tapping the watch when you get in.

I had no problem with clients saying they wanted you at the desk x to y up front. You could try and get some flexibility there and then and if not forthcoming, decline the role.

[tractor]

WTFS

And word it in a similar way if you have over an hour journey time to and from work.

I don't mind working late close to milestones and launch but I'm not prepared to either get home at 7.45 every night or stop over when I was sold a contract "that's just over an hour door-to-door'" by the agent.

(Also I now hear the alarm bells when an agent tells me he's using Google maps... anything)

FTFY