Reply to: Remote day rate?

[Old Greg]

Why not? Just consider it a remote contract and you are charging extra when on site.

[herman_g]

was this not specified in the contract you signed?

I've been working mostly for the same pimp for going on 12 years. I count him among my friends - we tend to get together and hang out whenever we are one or two countries away from each other.

From time to time, little surprises come up between what he agreed with the client and what I agreed with him.

I don't get all excited about it as he's always made adjustments on the current contract or the next one. After 30 years of contracting you mellow out a bit.

[northernladuk]

Look how big my willy is.....

I think you've misunderstood what was meant when someone mentioned you and 'biggest knob on the forums' in the same post.

[psychocandy]

Is it typical to take a lower day rate on the days you work remote? I've not come across it before, seems a bit thrifty for me. On one of my previous projects I spent a whole month remote on the same day rate. It was only £430 per day but even still.

Look how big my willy is.....

[PCTNN]

After speaking with my pimp, I found out my rate was the same but the Romanian guys rates were reduced by 50% for remote work. A bit of a p-take by the client / pimp.

was this not specified in the contract you signed?

[herman_g]

At my central European client, they had a lot of contractors from Romania on a fairly low rate (70% of my rate).

First time I did a week remote, my pimp's accountant contacted me to tell me my i didn't adjust my invoice for this (timesheet onsite / remote days were listed separate).

After speaking with my pimp, I found out my rate was the same but the Romanian guys rates were reduced by 50% for remote work. A bit of a p-take by the client / pimp.

One Romanian worked a full 50% of his time offsite despite having a full-time apartment in town.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I never charge less for working remotely. The client is getting the same amount of work and expertise in either case.

[ChimpMaster]

I was at a client where the journey time was a total of 3 hours a day. After a few months I found the travel grinding me down so I negotiated to work at home full time, in exchange for a 12% rate cut. The £ was less important to me at that point, and certainly it meant more to me to save 3 hours of my time each day.

So it's a personal choice influenced by the specific circumstances of your contract.

Negotiate a home rate you're happy with and then tell the client you'll be working at home full time

[oliverson]

I've never been asked to have a different rate for in/out of a client site. I can't see how that could be easily administered / enforced without someone taking a register each day of who turned up and when (ooh...is that nudging on SDC territory?). What if you did half a day at home and half at the office?

You'd be losing £ 37.50!

[ladymuck]

I've never been asked to have a different rate for in/out of a client site. I can't see how that could be easily administered / enforced without someone taking a register each day of who turned up and when (ooh...is that nudging on SDC territory?). What if you did half a day at home and half at the office?

[oliverson]

Yes I've had this. I had a rate for being in one of three office locations and then a rate for being at home, which was £75.00 a day less. I found out when I started that apparently one of the directors came up with it as he thought that if contractors didn't have the expense of getting to the office & staying over, then they shouldn't be paid the same rate. My argument was that the rate is for the work, not where it's based but it came down to a choice of take it or leave it.
Personally I thought the agency were spinning it all wrong anyway. I would have said you get paid £75.00 a day more for going into the office, rather than the other way around!

That would be enough to get me in there 5 days a week :-D

[vwdan]

It's not normal or standard, but at the end of the day, it's a business to business relationship and both parties can agree whatever they want.

I've taken lower rates contingent on the role being 90% remote, I've taken retainer rates, I've negotiated a specific London rate and probably other stuff.

I've never seen this stuff in what I'd describe as "bog stock" roles, but they're discussions I've had when working direct with clients etc. At the end of the day, so long as you're happy with it then what's the problem. If you're unhappy, negotiate!

[KinooOrKinog]

Yes I've had this. I had a rate for being in one of three office locations and then a rate for being at home, which was £75.00 a day less. I found out when I started that apparently one of the directors came up with it as he thought that if contractors didn't have the expense of getting to the office & staying over, then they shouldn't be paid the same rate. My argument was that the rate is for the work, not where it's based but it came down to a choice of take it or leave it.
Personally I thought the agency were spinning it all wrong anyway. I would have said you get paid £75.00 a day more for going into the office, rather than the other way around!

[northernladuk]

They should pay for your work regardless of location. It's your skill and expertise they get for their money. That said...

You may find a gig more attractive if it was permanently home based and accept a lower rate overall for the benefit to you. That's just negotiation before you accept.

I've never seen a rate vary depending on where you work. Maybe it's a clever play on delivering benefit to you for less cost for them. Could be attractive to contractors that stay away like me but I'd have to see the details.

Could just be them taking the piss.

Proceed carefully. Read, question and understand everything.

[DevUK]

Is it typical to take a lower day rate on the days you work remote? I've not come across it before, seems a bit thrifty for me. On one of my previous projects I spent a whole month remote on the same day rate. It was only £430 per day but even still.

Nope. Sounds off, sounds very off.