How do you translate hour rates to day rates in the

[Stan.goodvibes]

Generally, I work 20-40% of the time I'm on site. The clients never complain. In fact, sometimes they compliment me on my productivity. A recent CUK poll suggests I'm not alone.

Hmmmm very interesting. Here in NZ I work about 80-90% of the time I'm on site, as does everyone else. When I was in the UK in the City contracting I actually got away with doing about 2 days work a fortnight, and they still loved me.

[mfornas]

And how often are you required to be on-site?
In my last projects in Spain I went once a week for status evaluation and to decide priorities and new features for the next iteration. This situation may vary from project to project but as a general rule, is this common in the UK?

Thanks a lot

[NotAllThere]

... In this case how does the customer knows how much are you working? ...

They don't. What difference does it make? You could be charging by the minute, and all they're measuring is presence. What they really care about, though they may not be aware of it, is, are you being productive?

Generally, I work 20-40% of the time I'm on site. The clients never complain. In fact, sometimes they compliment me on my productivity. A recent CUK poll suggests I'm not alone.

[BrilloPad]

My contract says I get paid for any hours per day I work - and they expect an eight hour minimum.

But I often take a half day - charge 4 hours and get a full days wages!

But I usually work 9 hours per day so I think overall I am still down.

IBs are odd clients....

[ratewhore]

but watch out for 'professional day' rates where someone will try to con you into working 10+ hours for your 'daily' rate.

lol - I have 5 days a week, no hours defined. As long as they get what they need when they need it, it doesn't matter how long (or short) it takes.

All comes down to your attitude to the client. I guess I'm firm bu fair and I back it up with delivery...

[VectraMan]

Best not to have hours in the contract.

Just be reasonable about it. My first contract I didn't really keep time at all, and the manager was often not around anyway. I'd just write 37.5 hours on the timesheet for every week and because I was there everyday and exceeded their expectations and didn't try to get extra cash from them, they were quite happy.

I'd generally assume day rate = 7.5* hourly rate. TBH a 7.5 hour day is more than long enough for me.

[jmo21]

In case the contract does not specify weekly hours, how do you get paid? by working day? In this case how does the customer knows how much are you working? Or is this information not relevant? (If I was the customer I would like to know what I am paying for)

Also the T&C are generally counting the commuting time as working time in case you have to go to the office? In case they are, is this a good point to favor working from home almost entirely?

The more I ask the more questions come up...

if the client cares enough about that, they'll have the hours in the contract

and unless you have a highly specialized skill and they are desperate to hire you, I would be surprised if you got the commuting time as well

[mfornas]

Weekly hours

In case the contract does not specify weekly hours, how do you get paid? by working day? In this case how does the customer knows how much are you working? Or is this information not relevant? (If I was the customer I would like to know what I am paying for)

Also the T&C are generally counting the commuting time as working time in case you have to go to the office? In case they are, is this a good point to favor working from home almost entirely?

The more I ask the more questions come up...

[BolshieBastard]

but watch out for 'professional day' rates where someone will try to con you into working 10+ hours for your 'daily' rate.

Yes, beware of this. I once knew a PM who called a contractor into her office because he wasnt regularly working enough hours for his daily rate.

He'd put in a 73 hour week BTW! I'd left the project by this time because I could see what was coming.

If you can, its a good idea to have no weekly hours specified in the contract for IR35 purposes. You've then got to make any TM \ PM of the hours you'll work for the rate and nothing stupid either ie too many or too few!

[NotAllThere]

If hours not specified, I charge a daily rate that is 10x my hourly rate. Then work 5 hours a day.

[where did my id go?]

but watch out for 'professional day' rates where someone will try to con you into working 10+ hours for your 'daily' rate.

[BolshieBastard]

It depends on the exact T&C's of the contract.

The 'working day' could be 7.5 or 8 hours.

Im on a daily rate but the working day is only 7 hours ie 35 hrs per week. My client agrees to me working the 35 hours in 4 days so I have Fridays off.

[Jaws]

It will say on your contract. Mine says something about working up to 40hours a week based on £xxx/day for an 8hr day (which translates to an hourly rate).

[mfornas]

When an ad states a price for hour how do you translate this into a day rate?
For example if you are looking for a job of about 300£/day and the ad states 35£/hr. Can you work 9 hours and get 315£. Is it entirely up to you? Or is it limited by the agency/customer? If so, in what way?

Questions, questions, questions...