Reply to: Workplace stuff as a contractor

[Spacecadet]

I'm having the total opposite issue with my current and very first contract, there's nothing to do except waste time!

My team is very small and reactionary, we depend on the teams around us to bring us something to do, but there just isn't that much going on that effects our project!

I'm SURE people around me who are rushed off their feet on other projects and putting in huge overtime have noticed I sit here reading tech blogs most of the day but what am I suppose to do other than constantly ask the permies on my team (also surfing the net) and my line manager (80% reassigned to other projects) if there's ANYTHING to do?

There's only so many hours you can stare at the same page of perfectly functioning code...

Get some ebooks and learn something

Lost count how many times I've been in a position where I'm waiting for movement on a project before I can do anything, usually because of a delayed sign off from the board or a late delivered system.
Still time sat in the clients office is billable time, busy or not!

[lukemg]

Yep – been here on numerous occasions.
I let it slide for a while, especially at the start of a contract but after a while I would approach hiring manager, PM, whoever and have a quiet word along the lines of ‘look, got a few things coming in but reckon I can take on additional work if required, basically happy to help out with anything I can’.
Now of course this might raise the question of whether you are required at all but it will also tend to give a positive impression and might give you exposure to other work that could extend a contract.
After that, I will feel I have done what I can and while still playing the game I will engage neutral, cut hours to the bone etc while being ready to get stuck in if it picks up and pouncing on any new work.
Others say it’s a chance to learn a new skill on the companies time.
Especially in a big Co. once budget is approved the choice is often you at 50% or you gone and the team have to do more, middle management will be thinking keep you. In addition, always good to keep a bit of slack in the team so they can perform when things pick-up but more importantly when the squeeze comes to cut back, you can chuck a couple of names in the pot and still be able to function.

[nfoote]

I'm having the total opposite issue with my current and very first contract, there's nothing to do except waste time!

My team is very small and reactionary, we depend on the teams around us to bring us something to do, but there just isn't that much going on that effects our project!

I'm SURE people around me who are rushed off their feet on other projects and putting in huge overtime have noticed I sit here reading tech blogs most of the day but what am I suppose to do other than constantly ask the permies on my team (also surfing the net) and my line manager (80% reassigned to other projects) if there's ANYTHING to do?

There's only so many hours you can stare at the same page of perfectly functioning code...

[lukemg]

LOL! Great story but what if the boss trousers the 20 quid note!?

He didn't care, point was to dismiss the middle management bed-wetter as the nobber he was. So many people get these management things wrong, you can’t keep people to the minute or try to micro-manage, they will find a hundred ways to waste more time. You have to find a better way to inspire and get performance, even if that means trusting people sometimes and having a quiet word others.
I was on one contract, boss was miserable and a bit scary and I was new to the game. He approached one of the contractors who had been there a while and asked if he could give his desk a tidy. I nearly fell off my chair when the chap said ‘no, I ain’t tidying it, if you want it doing get someone in’. Pointy haired boss said ‘look, it’s not me that is bothered, someone has mentioned it’ – ‘fine’ came the reply, ‘send them over and I will tell them the same’, PHB retreated and I almost had a coronary trying to stop laughing.

[BolshieBastard]

Had a mate contractor, section got a new boss in and a couple of weeks later he got hauled in. New boss says, sorry to say there have been over 18 pounds of personal calls from your office phone in the last 2 months. Without a word, mate peels a twenty off and says - I trust we won't need to have this conversation again ! It's risky but he knew his worth and he wasn't loving the company so just refused to take any grief.

LOL! Great story but what if the boss trousers the 20 quid note!?

[norrahe]

What Zeity Said, if it's a 3 monther and you're nearing the end of it, just leave before they offer you the extension.

I've worked for some utter knobs, you just leave, there is a reason you contract and its so you don't have to put up with this kinda crap.

[MarillionFan]

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

tulip. Wrong login...

[stillooking]

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

it would be good if we could perhaps do this occasionally and get away with it

[nomadd]

There have been a couple of times that people in a client workplace should have received a punch from my puny fist, but what's stopped me is that my co. is liable for any injury caused and therefore I can be sued. That wouldn't be nice.

I'm sure you were only joking?

No, I punch all my clients on the way out. I never planned to work there again anyhow...

[achilles]

There are certain clients who do not understand how contractors operate and take objection to personal phone calls, surfing the internet, even using your own laptop while at work. These are environments you do not want to be in because all the good people on the project would eventually leave and the end result would be a failure.

Contractors are deliverables driven, not time driven. If I make personal calls for half-hour and then I stay an hour longer in the evening, who has the right to say anything to me?

My advice would be to look for a new contract and hand in your notice when you found one.

[stillooking]

Ask to speak to "big boss", explaining that you are the Managing Director of your company. Then tell him to f**k off. Oh, and punch him. Hard.

You are a contractor. Take no sh--.

Oh, and maybe look for another contract.

There have been a couple of times that people in a client workplace should have received a punch from my puny fist, but what's stopped me is that my co. is liable for any injury caused and therefore I can be sued. That wouldn't be nice.

I'm sure you were only joking? .

Wouldn't bother speaking to the MD or indeed punching him, just try and find another co to work for, not easy in these times of course.

[Fred Bloggs]

I have had gigs at a couple of really naff places. I stayed at each long enough to land my next contract, in both caes, around 6 weeks. Naturally, such naff/short gigs never appear on my resume. Some places the agencies just know have a really bad reputation amongst contractors too, so are not surprised when you jack in.

[Brussels Slumdog]

Switch your mobile off

In my third week of a (several month) contract. Just got told off for stepping outside the building twice this morning for taking two phone calls - each about four minutes each. Apparently one of the big bosses have noticed. My line manager was fair about it, he said considering the team in general is overloaded (reason for my hiring) everyone has a duty to 'seem' busy. But he also said, "I wouldn't ask you to take as much note of it if you were permanent, but you're a contractor..."

This is my first time contracting, and already I can't help getting this niggling feeling that as a contractor you walk a much tighter line on playing conditions (phone calls/internet/breaks...)?

What do the others think?

From day one on the contract I always switch my mobile off as 90% of calls are agents. If you need to make a private call do it during the lunch break or while walking to another area of the building. If you are in Wing A
walk to Wing D while making that call. Most open planned offices have small quite rooms where you can also makes calls. Make sure that you now always know where your line manager or big complaining boss is
before going outside.

[lukemg]

Had a mate contractor, section got a new boss in and a couple of weeks later he got hauled in. New boss says, sorry to say there have been over 18 pounds of personal calls from your office phone in the last 2 months. Without a word, mate peels a twenty off and says - I trust we won't need to have this conversation again ! It's risky but he knew his worth and he wasn't loving the company so just refused to take any grief.

[pmeswani]

In my third week of a (several month) contract. Just got told off for stepping outside the building twice this morning for taking two phone calls - each about four minutes each. Apparently one of the big bosses have noticed. My line manager was fair about it, he said considering the team in general is overloaded (reason for my hiring) everyone has a duty to 'seem' busy. But he also said, "I wouldn't ask you to take as much note of it if you were permanent, but you're a contractor..."

This is my first time contracting, and already I can't help getting this niggling feeling that as a contractor you walk a much tighter line on playing conditions (phone calls/internet/breaks...)?

What do the others think?

Sounds like my kinda contract. Where do I sign up? Does it involve cleaning dishes?