Reply to: What constitutes a 'day' when on 'daily rate'

[TheRightStuff]

here you go : http://forums.contractoruk.com/threa...fessional.html

[scooterscot]

I don't understand how people can talk about overtime unpaid unless they are permie.

Whether I work 8 hours or 12 a day I charge for each hour worked on that day, in every contract I've ever had no questions asked. My rate is this take it or leave it, this is the hours worked on that day. I worked those hours I charge for those hours... Are you sure you guys are contractors?

Imagine when you take your car to the garage with that one. 'but you said it should only take 1 hour to change the filter and your charging 3 hours labour'... 'there was some unforseen problems I had to do the extra time to get the job done' well at least it's I suppose how much do I owe you...

[Diestl]

My current gig is at a bank and is 7 hours a day on a hourly rate, which is perfect for me, it states though that I won't get overtime till I work over 8 hours.

[malvolio]

I do the job...


Actually, potential next gig could be fun. Day rate consultancy/interim management kind of thing - but they would want me to cover out of hours for major incidents. That might lead to some contractual niceties about working days...

One a month, no problem. One a week, I might start getting irritable

[Paddy]

A guide can be found here

I always get my working day defined with a maximum number of hours.

The shortest maximum was 6 hours with JPM, the Longest was 8 hours with KPMG.

[TheFaQQer]

My current contract says
"8 hours per day on Business Days between 0700 and 1900, or otherwise
at times to be agreed with the Client."

That said, I tend to work a 40+ hour week - arrive late Monday morning, come in early Tuesday to Friday, work late Monday to Thursday, leave early Friday afternoon. No-one's ever said anything about it so far...

The key word in the contract that I can see is "agreed" - I always set out my expectations right at the start, and then no-one is surprised when I slope off early on Fridays.

[oraclesmith]

It depends on your contract. In support roles the contract is everything so make sure it's a good one or you get taken for a ride. If the contract needs changing because of a change of hours, there's an ideal opportunity to renegotiate the rate.

[bellymonster]

Ok, did a search and found the mammoth discussion, which give lots of different theories.

Sure, I can understand the 'stay until the work is done' ethos, but if I stuck to that I'd never go home. There will always be work that needs doing and lots of it out of hours. Should I be expected to work 9 til 6 and then an extra 3 hours doing out of hours work OR should I really be coming in at 12 instead.

Has anyone ever lost a contract (particularly a support contract) because they didn't want to work evenings and weekends?

I've had a situation before where a contract was shift work, doing earlies and lates, and a week after starting the boss decided he needed 24/7 cover and I was doing nights all of a sudden.

[oraclesmith]

I'm on a nominal 8 hour day rate but because I'm currently doing project and programme management I have had some huge variations in my working days. Some days when the need is great I've been working until midnight or later and sometimes (when I've got ahead of the game) I've had much less to do so I've taken a few liberties. It's been pretty much my choice how many actual hours I put in and I work where and when I like.

In my case, it reinforces the fact that it's a B2B arrangement and more related to deliverables than simply hours worked.

If I was working in an area with steady demand - eg. system support; then there would be a need to limit the number of hours which constitute a 'day', because there are never any slack periods.

[n5gooner]

I'm on a day rate for this new gig, and I work 9-5(ish) well 9-4 with 90 minutes in the gym if I'm honest. but sometimes I work until 1930, sometimes I'll come in late or leave early...

[Old Greg]

Summarised as "You work between five minutes and 23 hours 59 minutes in any 24 period, you charge a day". Simple, really...

What about four and a half minutes? Not so simple now.

[rootsnall]

Just started a new contract on a daily rate and the existing contractor onsite tells me he did 47 hours overtime in one week, UNPAID!!

When you're on a daily rate, how many hours are you really expected to work?

For what it's worth I think he's a chump and deserves to be a permie.

I agree, I always used to insist on a definition of the working day in my contract. My recent ones still contained it and I didn't argue, I'd sooner be 'IR35ed' than expected to work overtime for nothing.

[malvolio]

Do a search on the General Board and you'll find a long thread about this...

Summarised as "You work between five minutes and 23 hours 59 minutes in any 24 period, you charge a day". Simple, really...

[Vito]

Do a search on the General Board and you'll find a long thread about this...

[Gros]

My contract is based on an 8 hour day. Any overtime is to be agreed in advance with the manager, so I'm out of the door on time each day.