Reply to: Time Off in Contracting 2015

[psychocandy]

I am debating with several people, family, friends about contractors/consultants about having time off inside a gig.

What is a reasonable balance between working, say, a 6 month contract and taking time off?
(Out of 110 working days on average, how days off would you take as a contractor?)


Cases #1: Pending events before a new contract

You already booked a break with your spouse before you take a new contract.
This is definitely relevant at this time of the year: heading for a break in the Sun.

How do you explain to a potential client that you will be away?
When do you explain to a potential client?
If you are searching for a new gig, do you let recruitment agents knows that you have a pending holiday?
Are you honest or dishonest?

In general, as many days as I feel like. Not what the client wants me to take.

For this scenario, no I will not cancel anything already booked. Won't tell the agent unless they ask. Be wary of telling them up front because they might bin you're CV "just in case" its a problem for client.

Beware of lying dog agents after the gig is sorted. I had this. Got the gig, asked agent to inform client of one week unavailable which they said they did. Got on site day 1 I mentioned it to client hadnt heard a dicky bird from agent. Luckily it was all ok.

Point being agent can't be trusted because once again they dont want to upset client and possibly screw up the gig they just sorted. So they say nothing. Day 1 you're in the door and they know you're unlikely to walk away from it if client kicks off about holidays....

Case #2: OOTO during 6 month contract

You are already in a contract, and you want or need some time away. What is the best way to negotiate time away?
When do let the boss know?
Do you book your holiday/OOTO and tell the boss?
Or do you ask the boss first and then book it?

Discuss with client and mention is this going to be a problem is what I do? All well and good saying I wont be available but I find its polite to do it this way.

Case #3: OOTO in a shorter contract (1-3 months)

Say, you in a contract thats last 3 months without possibility of renewals. Do you take any time off at all?
What if you have an immovable events such as a new kitchen installation or maybe a child's Disney holiday. (maybe this related to the case #1, because if there was an immovable event like that, I would knock it back and wait for a contract gig that is longer with more flexibility or use up the war chest. However, I just interested in what other contractors normally do in this situation.)

Yes if I want to.

Case #4: OOTO because of Training

Say you want to attend a IT conference or have a speaking engagement. Conferences and training tend to have 2+ months lead times and I find that there is sometimes a conflict of interest. I have already committed to a conference event especially if I am a speaker versus the project milestones of [potential] client. I wonder if other contractor/consultant are fighting with similar issues and how they strike a balance.

Same as holidays.

In general again, if I have hols planned I will advise client before the extension is signed. Sometimes if its month in advance and I've had a few extensions I will advise them even if its outside the scope of current one.

I've found 'most' won't be interested but when renewal comes up and this holiday is now in scope, I'll forward the email again as a reminder that I've mentioned this previously.

[rocktronAMP]

If I am currently in a contract I will aim to book holidays for just after I finish. Should an extension be offered, I will accept (usually!) and caveat it with I am on holiday from Xth til Yth. Never had an issue with this.

If I am not currently in a contract, I will book holidays for whenever I like, but usually more than 3 months away.

In most cases, I do not tell an agent about any holidays when I am applying for a role as I am convinced they will automatically bin your CV just in case the client don't like it, even though in 99% of cases, the client would probably not give a toss so long as they want to hire you.

If I was applying for a contract that was only 1-3 month long, only then would I tell the agent, and in that case I would expect them to bin, and wouldn't be fussed about it.

I do not tell the recruitment agent them that I have a pending holiday. However they would have to be fairly dumb at this time of the year to think that a potential candidate will not have a summer holiday. Granted, somebody will have just come back from the amazing sunny oriental beaches in Bali.

If I get a chance to interview then I ask the client directly and ask a sideways question about their project delivery milestones and fixed dates. Most engagements tend to be at least 6 months in delivery, so OOTO does not matter, as long I am up front in dates.

Usually recruitment agents ask up front for pending holiday when they call and I tell them and they can deal with it. This is normally a giveaway for projects that might be in difficulty. Recently, the agent did not do this and I spoke to the client directly. A developer had already let him down and they were three weeks behind in a fixed time contract budget delivery. I was honest and told the client I was going to be away. We could not work it out. The result was neither offer nor rejection, we left it open, the client could come back tomorrow morning. Sometimes you have luck and sometimes you have avoided a potential *trainwreck* project.

[rocktronAMP]

Whatever you and the client are mutually comfortable with.



1) "I am unavailable between these dates"
2) As soon as it becomes relevant- usually at the interview, though.
3) Yes
4) FFS. Honest.

Thanks for those answers.

1) "I am unavailable between these dates. Who should I hand over my work to? If it's massively inconvenient, I haven't booked it yet so can go the following week instead if that fits the plan better"
2) I have no boss - I run my own company. But I inform the client of my likely unavailability as soon as I know about it
3) I have no boss
4) I have no boss

Good point. I like it. It reminds of the anecdote: do you live to work or work to live.

Why would me getting a new kitchen impact my ability to work?

It depends on the situation of the installation. Ordinarily you could delegate, but your spouse might not be happy with you that left them to handle the builders and installer for two weeks whilst you did nothing but your day job. Hardly empathic support, sport. It is better share this responsibility in families.

"I am unavailable for these dates because I am at a conference"

It's not rocket science.

And if the client can't hack that we are in the self-improvement business then maybe they don't deserve to be clients. Love it. I'm gonna use it.

[SimonMac]

...will have planned that into his schedule in advance..... hopefully.

We really need to bin these "what would your plumber do" scenarios.... we all know plumbers/builders/sparks etc will not turn up at the drop of a hat

I agree, most of our contracts are 3 months +, a builder is two weeks at a time so they can plan small bit of work round their commitments.

I don't plan time off during contracts, I will take days here and there when i need them, if the contract spans over the summer holdiays I make it know when accepting any extensions that it will be on the proviso that I take two weeks at these dates.

[cojak]

Actually, you're probably correct. They are self-employed and not disguised employee.

And that's absolute twaddle as well.

[cojak]

...will have planned that into his schedule in advance..... hopefully.

We really need to bin these "what would your plumber do" scenarios.... we all know plumbers/builders/sparks etc will not turn up at the drop of a hat

I was thinking exactly the same thing..

[oscarose]

Perfectly fine providing he finishes the job prior to the agreed upon end date. Although I can't understand your reference giving the fact that the working practices of most contractors here have nothing in common with a self-employed builder/plumber.

Agreed. See #11

[sal]

And your self-employed builder insists on a week on the Costa half way through the bathroom job and the loo ain't flushing?

Perfectly fine providing he finishes the job prior to the agreed upon end date. Although I can't understand your reference giving the fact that the working practices of most contractors here have nothing in common with a self-employed builder/plumber.

[oscarose]

...will have planned that into his schedule in advance..... hopefully.

We really need to bin these "what would your plumber do" scenarios.... we all know plumbers/builders/sparks etc will not turn up at the drop of a hat

Actually, you're probably correct. They are self-employed and not disguised employee.

[jmo21]

Really?

IMHO.

[oscarose]

...will have planned that into his schedule in advance..... hopefully.

We really need to bin these "what would your plumber do" scenarios.... we all know plumbers/builders/sparks etc will not turn up at the drop of a hat

Really?

[Pherlopolus]

And your self-employed builder insists on a week on the Costa half way through the bathroom job and the loo ain't flushing?

He/She has right of substitution?

[jmo21]

And your self-employed builder insists on a week on the Costa half way through the bathroom job and the loo ain't flushing?

...will have planned that into his schedule in advance..... hopefully.

We really need to bin these "what would your plumber do" scenarios.... we all know plumbers/builders/sparks etc will not turn up at the drop of a hat

[oscarose]

And your self-employed builder insists on a week on the Costa half way through the bathroom job and the loo ain't flushing?

[sal]

If I am currently in a contract I will aim to book holidays for just after I finish. Should an extension be offered, I will accept (usually!) and caveat it with I am on holiday from Xth til Yth. Never had an issue with this.

If I am not currently in a contract, I will book holidays for whenever I like, but usually more than 3 months away.

In most cases, I do not tell an agent about any holidays when I am applying for a role as I am convinced they will automatically bin your CV just in case the client don't like it, even though in 99% of cases, the client would probably not give a toss so long as they want to hire you.

If I was applying for a contract that was only 1-3 month long, only then would I tell the agent, and in that case I would expect them to bin, and wouldn't be fussed about it.

^This, if i have something planned during the first month of potential new contract I will bring it up during the interview with the Client, if it's later I will treat them as any ClientCo and inform them of my unavailability after the contract starts aiming for at least 1 month notice.

As for the OP question how much time off people take during contract - how long is a piece of string?