Reply to: What to do?

[jmo21]

Basically, as far as I'm concerned long hours aren't a badge of honour, they're a badge of poor performance and/or resource management and/or planning.

Or brown nosers hoping showing their 'commitment' will get them their next promotion.

[centurian]

"Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive"

what complete guff man you would never know as you are away home.

Being in the office for 14 hours and actually working for 14 hours isn't the same thing.

I work solidly for 8 hours - no checking news, cricket scores, sorting out personal matters, buying stuff online etc. I am also rock solid reliable - in every single day at roughly the same time - and that's not just because I am a contractor.

Many of the permies that work long hours, don't actually work for that long - and tend to go off sick every few works because they've burned themselves out.

Sure if there is a problem, I stay late and sort it out. But it has to be a problem that cannot wait until the following morning.

[malvolio]

Right now I do eight hour days, since that is what is being charged to the end client and we're in an open plan office with their management two rows away...

However I usually don't necessarily do 8 hours work, I deliver what's needed to be delivered. If that's going to take more than eight hours a day to accomplish, either I got my planning wrong or I got my planning wrong

I'll do longer days if necessary and because someone else has screwed up, or because meeting schedules demand it (it happens, for all sort of reasons and we have to be reasonable about it) But for example we have a senior PM on site who delights in calling two hour meetings starting at 16:30, although in his case he's too rubbish to orealise it will be a two hour meeting to hit his objectives. Usually I don't attend them...

Basically, as far as I'm concerned long hours aren't a badge of honour, they're a badge of poor performance and/or resource management and/or planning.

[bless 'em all]

Hey I don't mind my grunts or temps < 500day people going home early, snip..

Nice attitude. Do people fight for the right to sit next you?

[nomadd]

"Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive"

what complete guff man you would never know as you are away home.

Ah, the real work gets done when I'm not there but people like you are. I understand, now. Well, I guess all I can say is thanks for covering for me for the last 15 years.

(Ps. Maybe you could utilise some of those looooong hours spent in the office learning to use the ContractorUK quote facility properly? )

[tarbera]

strange

Strange attitude. Can't imagine any contractor with an ounce of commonsense or integrity ever working with you.

For the record, I've 10-15 years worth of Banking roles on my cv, all contract. Both Retail and IB. Current contract, just like the last, is for an IB. In before 8:00 a.m. each day, out the door at 4:30 p.m. sharp. No discussion, no debate. Been with current client for nearly two years now.

Yes, I do see plenty of permie muppets and the odd (rare) contractor sitting in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. They get paid nothing for all that free overtime, whilst the Bank rakes in billions in profits. Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive...

Guess I'm just not hard enough for the testosterone world of Banking? Must have just been lucky all these years.

Hey I don't mind my grunts or temps < 500day people going home early, but if i am paying someone >1000 day and we have an issue to solve they better be there next to me until it's sorted.

and as for

"Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive"

what complete guff man you would never know as you are away home.

[d000hg]

You can play the family card to the agent as well, it shouldn't really be relevant but it is something much easier to accept.

[jonathanOnshore2010]

Strange attitude. Can't imagine any contractor with an ounce of commonsense or integrity ever working with you.

For the record, I've 10-15 years worth of Banking roles on my cv, all contract. Both Retail and IB. Current contract, just like the last, is for an IB. In before 8:00 a.m. each day, out the door at 4:30 p.m. sharp. No discussion, no debate. Been with current client for nearly two years now.

Yes, I do see plenty of permie muppets and the odd (rare) contractor sitting in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. They get paid nothing for all that free overtime, whilst the Bank rakes in billions in profits. Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive...

Guess I'm just not hard enough for the testosterone world of Banking? Must have just been lucky all these years.

+1

FWIW, every new contract I start, from the very first day I walk out once the full day has been done, not a minute more. It sets the expectation upfront, I've had plenty of renewals and never once been asked to do out of hrs support (that always goes to the perms....)

[jonathanOnshore2010]

if one of my team insited at leaving as 4.30pm they would be replaced, stick with the non banking role i dont think a bank would suit you

I used to leave an IB at 4:30, but then it did involve a 7:00 ish start. The mgr was happy with this, I made a point of saying good bye to the team when I left as well. So I could hold my head up high knowing the 8 hrs in the contract had been completed. (but I've also experience the opposite as well, such cultural pressure. You just don't know until you start working...)

[jonathanOnshore2010]

Its not totally about the rate, its the 'bank on my CV' thing thats pulling me back...Also, I've verbally accepted the bank role...thats bothering me too...

Kiddo, there is absolutely no loyality in banking. Better you learn that now than later. you dont think RBS, loyds, barcap etc will think twice when it comes around to cutting your rate or deciding to walk you offsite, do you? verbal means nothing at all, until it's signed. And even that only means the notice period. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but I've seen enough of the thin wedge to know.

[nomadd]

if one of my team insited at leaving as 4.30pm they would be replaced, stick with the non banking role i dont think a bank would suit you

Strange attitude. Can't imagine any contractor with an ounce of commonsense or integrity ever working with you.

For the record, I've 10-15 years worth of Banking roles on my cv, all contract. Both Retail and IB. Current contract, just like the last, is for an IB. In before 8:00 a.m. each day, out the door at 4:30 p.m. sharp. No discussion, no debate. Been with current client for nearly two years now.

Yes, I do see plenty of permie muppets and the odd (rare) contractor sitting in the office from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. They get paid nothing for all that free overtime, whilst the Bank rakes in billions in profits. Mind you, those who tend to spend the most hours in the office tend to be those who are least productive...

Guess I'm just not hard enough for the testosterone world of Banking? Must have just been lucky all these years.

[tarbera]

4.30pm leave - lol

if one of my team insited at leaving as 4.30pm they would be replaced, stick with the non banking role i dont think a bank would suit you

[psychocandy]

In 2 years time everyone will have forgotten, there will be new PM's etc etc. Send an e-mail to the agent saying you've got a better offer, and switch off your phone.

Or phone him up, don't beat around the bush, tell him and he'll start to moan, but even at that point you'll be feeling good, because you did it.

Just think 2 hours commute every day, month in month out, year in year out, you'll be saving hundreds of hours of your life.

Agent will have forgotten within 2 days if theres money in it for him...

[doomage]

solved

Get a subbie in for the bank job.

[Thejacka1]

You've got a young kid as well, the kid has to spend 90 minutes longer in the Nursery every day rather than spend it with you.

If it was just you and you wanted to get Banking/Finance on your CV then fair enough. But with a kid the local job is a no brainer IMO.

What did you have kids for if you'd prefer to work rather than spend time with them?