Reply to: Contract ambiguous about hours

[The Spartan]

Not last place I worked. Staying past 4-30pm was staying late!

Depends what time you started though lol

[psychocandy]

I think you'll find in permiedom that the standard day is 8 hours not 7.5 and yes I know you're on about a contract here.

Not last place I worked. Staying past 4-30pm was staying late!

[The Spartan]

I don't think there are standard hours/day in permiedom. All my permie jobs in the past have been 7.5 hours.

With the exception of working for the public sector and banks, all my permie jobs were a 40 hr week

[kingcook]

I think you'll find in permiedom that the standard day is 8 hours not 7.5 and yes I know you're on about a contract here.

I don't think there are standard hours/day in permiedom. All my permie jobs in the past have been 7.5 hours.

[The Spartan]

I think you'll find in permiedom that the standard day is 8 hours not 7.5 and yes I know you're on about a contract here.

[riffpie]

Must admit I'm not keen on this professional day thing. If the clients OK then its ok but I've heard some stories from other contractor friends.

Would be even less keen on what the OP is saying. Isnt it basically saying you've got to do at least 8 hours even more if we want but you wont get flexibility from us in return? Not cool.

If I work extra thats fine, but then I dont expect anyone to moan if I leave at 3pm one day (6 hour day). They get more off me than 8 hours in the long run but if they start playing funny buggers then it'll stop.

Luckily, my client is pretty good and has never ever told me when to come and go.

(Note, an hour or two extra a day is fine by me but my recent 18 hour stint was a bit much - will be taking this as a day in lieu or something).

Yep, this is my concern. I'm not worried about an 8 hour day, just aware that a 7.5 hour day is considered the norm, and we usually work more than that, on aggregate. Raising this to 8 hours a day, sounds like it can be abused. I was really wondering what people made of this ambiguous language, rather than proposing a discussion on what an acceptable work day is though!

[riffpie]

You've obviously had it easy. I don't think I've had a contract where I am not expected to work 8 hours a day for about 15 years! (london banking). Although usually on the contract it is just described as a 'professional day'.

It's the fact that it's explicitly describing a working day as 8 hours that's of concern. I know it's expected for us to exceed that sometimes, but raising the baseline like this seems like the expected xcess is also raised.

[kingcook]

Cojones?

[northernladuk]

It's about time to grow some kahunas! lol

FTFY

[The Spartan]

It's about time to grow some brass balls! lol

[bobspud]

I once did a 2 day contract for a former employer for a data migration and in there it stated:

"£XXX per 8 hour day"

I ended up working 24 hrs in total and billed them accordingly for each extra hour and was quids in when they paid me

Thats how I have always worked. If a client looks at me and says no I want you to do 14 hours for the price of 8 I just tell them I will agree as soon as the company solicitors agree to the same terms. Seriously why is the IT profession such a bunch of wet socks? Lawyers, Solicitors & Accountancy firms charge heavily for their knowledge. We are the ultimate knowledge profession so why oh why are so many of you happy to give creative time away for free?

[The Spartan]

WHS, I'm also lucky enough to have a flexible client

When we do releases here we often work an extra 3-4 hrs which I see as a courtesy, if they did ever decide to act up about me leaving early on Fridays I wouldn't be so accommodating that's for sure.

[psychocandy]

Must admit I'm not keen on this professional day thing. If the clients OK then its ok but I've heard some stories from other contractor friends.

Would be even less keen on what the OP is saying. Isnt it basically saying you've got to do at least 8 hours even more if we want but you wont get flexibility from us in return? Not cool.

If I work extra thats fine, but then I dont expect anyone to moan if I leave at 3pm one day (6 hour day). They get more off me than 8 hours in the long run but if they start playing funny buggers then it'll stop.

Luckily, my client is pretty good and has never ever told me when to come and go.

(Note, an hour or two extra a day is fine by me but my recent 18 hour stint was a bit much - will be taking this as a day in lieu or something).

[The Spartan]

I once did a 2 day contract for a former employer for a data migration and in there it stated:

"£XXX per 8 hour day"

I ended up working 24 hrs in total and billed them accordingly for each extra hour and was quids in when they paid me

[bobspud]

It says "In any week, the subcontractor shall charge <daily rate> per day, for a minimum period of at least 8 hours per day"

Tell them to change the contract to hourly, then I'm sure they'll change their mind, or advise them that you are prepared to work 8 hours/day, but will bill/per hour thereafter.

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