Reply to: Securing a good Work From Home from the off

[b0redom]

It was never going to happen turns out the new PM had had the same conversation with a number of others over the previous few weeks (and I already had a better gig lined up). The moral of the story is, I guess, things are way less likely to move in your favour once you've signed on the dotted line. Although you're B2B rather than peon/master, they're the ones with the cash.

[PerfectStorm]

I was told in no uncertain terms that this was unacceptable and I would need to be in the office 4 days per week from then on. I said as I only had 2 weeks left on the contract I would suck it up. I was immediately offered an extension (which I declined).

Sorry, what's the moral of this story?

Did you try to make it a condition of the extension? That's an opportunity for leverage if ever I saw one

[b0redom]

Well that's what I thought. But there's the other school of thought that says if you start doing it once you're bedded into the project there's less likelihood of them throwing out the whole arrangement to start again with someone else... you just get a client who hates you.

I've found it's more likely to work the other way. At ClientCo-1 I had a PM call me into an office and ask why I was working from home 3 days per week. I politely explained that it was because I had a 2.5 hour commute each way and that's what I'd agreed with their predecessor.

I was told in no uncertain terms that this was unacceptable and I would need to be in the office 4 days per week from then on. I said as I only had 2 weeks left on the contract I would suck it up. I was immediately offered an extension (which I declined).

It doesn't have to go in the contract necessarily (although it's probably a weak D&C pointer), but if WFH is important to you it should form part of the initial discussions then everyone is on the same page.

[PerfectStorm]

Yeah, but if they were like that when you approached it at interview, imagine what they'd be like to work for.

Well that's what I thought. But there's the other school of thought that says if you start doing it once you're bedded into the project there's less likelihood of them throwing out the whole arrangement to start again with someone else... you just get a client who hates you.

[SueEllen]

Well in all my interviews this week I've mentioned it and in response I've been shot a face like thunder... it's not going well

What is your client base?

I had a role where the organisation decided to save money by ensuring contractors didn't have desks and that included hot desks. On the couple of days per month I went into the office, if no-ones desk was free I had to work in the kitchen.

Current role most of the office is WFH a few days a week or entirely - it's left up to you. I thought I was the only contractor because of this but then found there were two others. Contractors are the actual specialists in their area this company.

[b0redom]

Yeah, but if they were like that when you approached it at interview, imagine what they'd be like to work for.

Personally unless it's on my doorstep I won't take a gig which won't let me work at least a couple of days from home. I'm sick of wasting my life commuting on rubbish trains. I have no issue being in the office for meetings/whiteboarding sessions etc, but just to be a bum on seat disguised employee? No thanks!

[PerfectStorm]

Well in all my interviews this week I've mentioned it and in response I've been shot a face like thunder... it's not going well

[Goosefeather]

I just asked at the interview. Was told they offer remote working and aren't fussed about fridays. As the gig started, I realised ALL my work was done on the phone or remotely and had no contact with anyone in the office as they are spread all over the uk. Added to the fact the building is empty on a Monday, I decided to WFH mondays too. After all, I am outside ir35, so I am not bound by office rules. Sometimes if I dont fancy the 2 1/2 hour slog to the office, I WFH 3 days a week. Suits me perfectly and I am always home for my 2 nippers' bedtime.

[PerfectStorm]

It was pretty tedious TBH

Yes, I thought that may have been an assumption too far...

[ladymuck]

That's the dream (assuming the day work wasn't mind numbing tedium)

It was pretty tedious TBH

[PerfectStorm]

Last time I was at Barclays, I spent 2-3 weeks in the office, getting up to speed and essentially making sure I had all my access sorted. I then did a trial day or two a week at home, primarily to make sure everything I needed still worked. After that I only turned up to the office twice a month at most - usually for after work drinks or to meet someone for lunch.

That's the dream (assuming the day work wasn't mind numbing tedium)

[ladymuck]

Last time I was at Barclays, I spent 2-3 weeks in the office, getting up to speed and essentially making sure I had all my access sorted. I then did a trial day or two a week at home, primarily to make sure everything I needed still worked. After that I only turned up to the office twice a month at most - usually for after work drinks or to meet someone for lunch.

[PerfectStorm]

This is my first gig and I was told the role was primary a work from home role. When I joined I stupidly said I would work 3 days from the office and now that is expected of me. So my advice would be. If you get a wfh role, cherish it!

oh dear

I joined a project with a team of contractors once (we all started the same day) - gig was purely from home, and some of them started going "we'll I'll do 3/4 days in the office" "me too!" and I'm thinking "shut up!"

[callum103]

I've worked in a variety of businesses that all have different attitudes to WFH. Some roles entirely from home (rare), some where the office kinda goes quiet on Friday (normal) and others that seem to have some kind of nervous opposition to it (rare but annoying).

Those who have WFH baked into the contract from the off - how did you make it happen? Do you mention it to your recruiter up front, get something in the contract, bring it up at interview?

Any tips for making it happen?

This is my first gig and I was told the role was primary a work from home role. When I joined I stupidly said I would work 3 days from the office and now that is expected of me. So my advice would be. If you get a wfh role, cherish it!

[northernladuk]

Plenty of proper B2B contracts with medium and large consultancies require the staff on client site. Just because something is possible doesn't mean it is ideal for the client. Nothing wrong with a client not liking WFH.