Reply to: Rejecting a renewal.

[NotAllThere]

Well to add to the mix, the client have now told me they are changing the way that overtime is paid, the client are only paying half or full days overtime, and get this... they are going to round down anything that isn't a full or half day i.e. if I do 3 hours that will be rounded down to 0 and if I do 6 hours it gets rounded down to a half day, comedy,needless to say a)I'm looking for a new contract asap and b) not working overtime :-D

We had something similar when I was a permie manager. I told the troups that if they worked an extra hour or two during the week, I wouldn't notice if they came in later than usual a few times. For Saturdays, it was amazing the number of times we worked 4.5 hours. Obviously because it was more than half a day, we had to have lunch (paid for by the company).

"You tell me how I'll be measured, and I'll tell you how I'll behave".

[vetran]

Sometimes its nice being permie! At least I know I'm being shafted.

Ask them if they mind you working 20 hours a week and paying you 40?

[shelby68]

Well to add to the mix, the client have now told me they are changing the way that overtime is paid, the client are only paying half or full days overtime, and get this... they are going to round down anything that isn't a full or half day i.e. if I do 3 hours that will be rounded down to 0 and if I do 6 hours it gets rounded down to a half day, comedy,needless to say a)I'm looking for a new contract asap and b) not working overtime :-D

[gadgetman]

In a similar vein, I am due to start a new contract on Monday. The stated hours are 35 per week and there is no mention of a 'professional day' in the contract.

At the interview they asked how I'd feel weeking extended hours or even weekends and I said okay in principle as long as not for extended periods.

Anyway after this I wanted to get something in writing about pay for extra hours/weekends. The agent has now made some noises about client expectations and a professional day though he has (at least) confirmed that any weekend work would be paid extra (only standard rate though). He also said that the client has stated that weekend work was very unlikely(??).

He's also confirmed that currently people on site are working around 40 hours. I've just raised my concern that if 'on the ground' expectations are that I should work 40 hours on a regular basis then that is at odds with what I am contracted to do.

I want to be reasonable and don't have a problem with occasional extra hours but if I'm expected to do this regularly then I won't be happy. I have a 2 hour commute (debated at length elsewhere on here) to do on top of my day, hence the attraction of the 35 hour week and my concerns.

Anyone else encountered this sort of thing? Do I need to get anything else in writing? I haven't signed anything yet...

[Cooperinliverp00l]

Any news on this story ??

[Zorba]

I can't believe some clients expect you to work only 10 hours a day. We're not part-timers you know!

Whatever next, "don't come in on weekends and bank holidays"!

Whilst that's acceptable at go-live, I'd find it somewhat unusual to have to be doing that on a regular basis.

Unless you're charging by the hour, of course.

[Muttley08]

Discretion is the better part etc...

Make some polite excuse not to extend if you don't want to. Some places hold quite detailed records of contractor's performance for future reference - don't tell em to sling it.

If the economy keeps going as it is - you might need all your contacts you can get...

[DimPrawn]

I can't believe some clients expect you to work only 10 hours a day. We're not part-timers you know!

Whatever next, "don't come in on weekends and bank holidays"!

[wendigo100]

I agree with Chicane though - don't burn bridges.

By the way, it's all very well getting extra remuneration for 10-hour days, but do you actually want to do them? It will be expected of you.

[shelby68]

Thanks for the advice, I’ve spoken to the agency and they fell about laughing when I mentioned the 10 hour days.

I also mentioned that if the rate reflected the 10 hours then no problem; basically they said not to worry about it and they are going to speak to the guy and put him right.

Could probably see the extra profit going down the drain from the extra hours I've already been doing.

[lukemg]

Make it their choice. There will be a price at which you will be happy working the 10 hours required. Indicate that the working hours are somewhat different to those described in the contract but you are happy to adapt to these for a professional day rate of x.
Do this through the agent, offer no compromise, leave it unsaid that you will leave if these conditions aren't met. They will either agree to this or more likely finish you, either way you win. You are prepared to leave, this gives you a position of strength from which to negotiate.
Trust me - you can do 3 months virtually anywhere if the rate is right.

[chicane]

Last time I rejected a renewal, I thought it best to lay down a case for my business. The current client was offering 1 month at the current rate, whereas I had an offer elsewhere for 3 months at a significantly higher rate. I told them it was not in the interests of my business to stay with them, although did offer various alternatives such as working from home and/or high rate etc, which they chose not to take up.

There's no point in telling them where to go - satisfying as it might be. It's a small world and you never know when you might need them again.

Also, before rejecting them outright, you might want to find another gig. Being in a poor gig with cash coming must be better than weeks of no-income uncertainty on the bench.

[NotAllThere]

That's

[shelby68]

Thanks all,

Thats exactly what I wanted to hear.

[Cowboy Bob]

Reject it for any reason you like. Until you sign your name on the extension documents, you have no professional, legal or moral obligation to stay.

BTW - I'd tell your manager to shove his 10 hours up his @rse.