Reply to: Newbie with some questions

[billybiro]

It's all about perspective.

The perspective may be "this person always leaves early", even if that person actually always leaves on time and gets the work done.

If they hold that perspective, you need to change it, even if it is wrong for them to hold it.

Perspective is truth.

I understand that. But if the client is one that judges you far more on the length of time your bum is on a seat rather than what you actually deliver, then perhaps it's time to reconsider whether you want to work for that client.

As we're continually reminded, actual working practices trump contract wording. If all your client wants from you is a bum-on-a-seat to perform work as and when the client decides they want you to (and you happily do this based on the knowledge that this is how the client will judge you), then you're almost certainly operating just like the permanent staff and that's going to put you directly in the IR35 firing line.

[l35kee]

It's all about perspective.

The perspective may be "this person always leaves early", even if that person actually always leaves on time and gets the work done.

If they hold that perspective, you need to change it, even if it is wrong for them to hold it.

Perspective is truth.

[billybiro]

The moron is strong in this one.

The subservient doormat is strong in this one.

[northernladuk]

So what? If the client's in a "scorched earth" kind of mood regarding reducing headcount, then all contractors will be the ones to suffer, irrespective of the amount of hours that any one contractor might do.

Besides, as chicane says, it's all about delivery, not the time spent as a bum-on-seat. Or are you hypocritically advocating we all act like disguised permies now?

The moron is strong in this one.

[antoniojos]

As for the hours: the work load far exceeds the 7.5 hours required. I work on a team with seasoned perms who are doing what I'm doing with the same amount of work load, which is why all of them have been putting in 10-12 hours days.

[antoniojos]

I've never been on an hourly rate though and would treat those roles with suspicion.

Interesting...why would you 'treat those roles with suspicion' ?

[Lance]

The OP is on an hourly rate.

If you were on an hourly rate, would you work extra hours every day and not get paid for them?

If I was hourly I'd work the hours to do the best job and bill for the hours.
If the budget won't stretch to the extra hours then I wouldn't do much on a Friday.

I've never been on an hourly rate though and would treat those roles with suspicion.

[TheFaQQer]

I do a professional working day. It might be 6 hours, it might be 10 hours. If it hits 12 hours I often bill for an extra half day.

The OP is on an hourly rate.

If you were on an hourly rate, would you work extra hours every day and not get paid for them?

[TheFaQQer]

working through your lunch unpaid happens sometimes, plus late working to help on a particular tight deadline

This is not the scenario being described, making the rest of your post irrelevant.

[Lance]

If I understand you correctly, I'd rather be on my way home than in the office gossiping about the renewal prospects of those who have left for the day!

But this is getting a little OT.

who said it was gossip. Hiring managers tend to be around later than 5.30.
Anyway. Each to their own.

I do a professional working day. It might be 6 hours, it might be 10 hours. If it hits 12 hours I often bill for an extra half day.

[chicane]

that's because it's 5.30 PM and we're discussing who's next on the exit list.

Fancy a guess?

If I understand you correctly, I'd rather be on my way home than in the office gossiping about the renewal prospects of those who have left for the day!

But this is getting a little OT.

[Lance]

Not sure I understand you.

that's because it's 5.30 PM and we're discussing who's next on the exit list.

Fancy a guess?

[chicane]

And once they are gone who's next?

Not sure I understand you.

[northernladuk]

I'm really strict about time in and out of work - 99% of the time I do the contractual hours and no more.

I tend to find that the contractors that get binned are the ones who deliver services of a poor standard, or fail to deliver anything.

And once they are gone who's next?

[chicane]

Contractors who are out the door at 5PM on the dot are the first to be binned.

I'm really strict about time in and out of work - 99% of the time I do the contractual hours and no more.

I tend to find that the contractors that get binned are the ones who deliver services of a poor standard, or fail to deliver anything.