Reply to: What should I do?

[SevenoaksHammer]

Read this with interest...

As was in the same boat (with no work to do and not being utilised) recently. Really found this forum useful (and not so useful at times !).

Best and most common advice was always be honest, do a handover if required and offer a substitute.

Now started a great gig and lots of new technology

[northernladuk]

Contract is outside of IR35 since its a European contract.

Good stuff!!

[solo12]

Don't forget if you are on site and doing bits an pieces at clients request and not delivering as per contract you are raising a large red IR35 flag for client direction. How you manage that I have no idea but just wanted to point out being directed by client is not good.

Contract is outside of IR35 since its a European contract.

[northernladuk]

Don't forget if you are on site and doing bits an pieces at clients request and not delivering as per contract you are raising a large red IR35 flag for client direction. How you manage that I have no idea but just wanted to point out being directed by client is not good.

[solo12]

I was in a contract where the first few days there wasn't much to do, so I discussed with the line manager when substantive work would arrive, and agreed not to come in until then. (Obviously not charging). In the meantime, I worked on my other contract.

I wish I had another contract by the side Actually I am working on something at home but will not yeild enough and at the moment I need the money unfortunately, though if this continues, health is more important. that's why I will give it another month

[NotAllThere]

On other occasions, I've simply gone home. Not an option if you need the money, obviously, but a potential source of goodwill.

Currently, I've only enough work for three days per week, so I'm enjoying the time off to do other things.

[psychocandy]

I was in a contract where the first few days there wasn't much to do, so I discussed with the line manager when substantive work would arrive, and agreed not to come in until then. (Obviously not charging). In the meantime, I worked on my other contract.

Ideal if you've got anothe contract to work on. But for most of us I suspect it'd be the one and only contract and whereas it'd be nice to do that and you'd rther not just sit there, its money at the end of the day.

[NotAllThere]

I was in a contract where the first few days there wasn't much to do, so I discussed with the line manager when substantive work would arrive, and agreed not to come in until then. (Obviously not charging). In the meantime, I worked on my other contract.

[solo12]

Yeah, sure! solo12 is just wanting to bounce some ideas off the wall. Don't sweat it.

solo12, if I'd only been in a client site a month, done nothing, hated it and an old client would have me back on the same terms, then I'd probably cut and run. Get your time sheet signed then tell the current client that I'm bailing out and that's it. If it pissed them off then so what - I wouldn't put that one on the CV/Client List anyway so WTF.

Give notice then call in the "mutuality of obligation" or substitution clause in your contract that is so much vaunted here and used by clients to dump contractors left right and centre without notice. Sod it, life's too short to take tulip from people. If there's a better offer then just take it.

Yeah did not mean any harm to anyone Its not exactly done nothing, I am patching some stuff, but not too much to last the day, so most of the time doing nothing yeah. I will give it another month or so, and see how that goes. Most prob I already know the outcome, but I will try to be as professional as possible until this goes on. Thanks for ur opinion Wanderer.

[Wanderer]

You really think an internet forum is the best place to ask for advice on things none of us can advise on?

Yeah, sure! solo12 is just wanting to bounce some ideas off the wall. Don't sweat it.

solo12, if I'd only been in a client site a month, done nothing, hated it and an old client would have me back on the same terms, then I'd probably cut and run. Get your time sheet signed then tell the current client that I'm bailing out and that's it. If it pissed them off then so what - I wouldn't put that one on the CV/Client List anyway so WTF.

Give notice then call in the "mutuality of obligation" or substitution clause in your contract that is so much vaunted here and used by clients to dump contractors left right and centre without notice. Sod it, life's too short to take tulip from people. If there's a better offer then just take it.

[solo12]

There was a good piece of advice - talk it out with your line manager. It maybe that things have changed or the original piece of work is yet to start. If things have changed, there maybe an oppertunnity for a mutal out. Then its win-win.

Just make sure you tell the ClientCo you're returning to how difficult it was etc etc making you look the hero ;~)

Hahah wish I could manage to make it look like I am the hero but I doulbt it A good sending off would be enough

[solo12]

The problem with this type of question is there are absolutely no tangibles or history. What he gets is pure conjecture and is next to useless to the OP. He will be looking for an answer he wants to hear and will go with that which is worse than him making his own decision as there maybe other factors we are not aware of. Again my opinion. The user is welcome to ask but part of the opinions he is asking for is to make his own mind up. If he doesn't like advice like that then open forum isn't the place.

As I said, I am more looking at your experiences and not a straight answer. My answer would be to leave, but I do not want to make it look unprofessional. I thought that you guys might have had a previous experience like me, and what is the best way out. That's all.

[solo12]

What do you think the chances are of the work picking up where you are?

Never ceases to amaze me the number of clients who pay all that money for a contractor and then they turn up and nothing is ready. Some places I've spent weeks with no PC, and then waiting for client to be ready.

Then again, it might never. To be honest, if it was me I'd give it a big longer and then bail for the old client if things didnt improve.

Its all well and good saying you're still billing but it can be a nightmare just sitting there bored...

Well to tell you the truth no idea yet, but as I said before, I will maybe wait another 2 weeks and see how things turn up, and then have a chat with my manager. The only thing is that I might loose the chance to go to the prev employer cause he will hire someone else.

Yeah sure, people might think that its the best thing to do, billing and not doing anything, but even if I do not have anything to do, I hate browsing all day, feel a bit guilty that I am getting paid for nothing.

[solo12]

If this really is a case of not just wanting to run off to familiar territory, i.e. role with previous client, and if the situation is as awkward as you say, then IMO - time to take this to your line manager.

It seems (from what you say) you are not doing the role you envisaged - as per role spec - and there's nothing worse than being sat there odd-jobbing. Some might say 'well just bill' but that doesn't hold much water, IMO, if the situation is crap. It becomes a daily grind.

It's happened to me once, and got to the stage where I was dreading going to work. The original work, which I was hired to do, didn't come on stream. Keeping it brief, I spoke to the line manager, she understood, and even apologised. We parted on good terms.

Grasp the nettle.

As for:You really think an internet forum is the best place to ask for advice on things none of us can advise on? well, 1) he was asking for advice/opinion, and 2) given the nature of the question, why can't the OP ask? Thought that was what this forum was all about. I've seen worse queries.

Thanks for your reply SteelyDan, this is the kind of answer I was looking for. BTW was not asking you guys to make the decision for me, but just wanted to see how fellow contractors think and if you have gone through this before, I think that's what this forum is about.

So the thing is, maybe my mistake too, but the interview was not very informative. Basically they told me what needed to be done, and I was up to the job. But then I found something a bit different. I am not there to make friends but its nice to be in a nice environment like I was before several times.

Yes I think the best thing to do is let another month pass and see what happens, if things move in the right direction or not. If not will have a chat with the line manager, however there is the possibility that the job with my prev employer is gone by that time. Am really not looking forward to turn up every morning there at the moment, but I guess its part of the job.

[Notascooby]

The problem with this type of question is there are absolutely no tangibles or history. What he gets is pure conjecture and is next to useless to the OP. He will be looking for an answer he wants to hear and will go with that which is worse than him making his own decision as there maybe other factors we are not aware of. Again my opinion. The user is welcome to ask but part of the opinions he is asking for is to make his own mind up. If he doesn't like advice like that then open forum isn't the place.

There was a good piece of advice - talk it out with your line manager. It maybe that things have changed or the original piece of work is yet to start. If things have changed, there maybe an oppertunnity for a mutal out. Then its win-win.

Just make sure you tell the ClientCo you're returning to how difficult it was etc etc making you look the hero ;~)