Reply to: Clients pushing it too far - extra stuff etc?

[psychocandy]

Day 36 in the PsychoCandy gig, it's 12.40 and PC is at his PC typing....

Took your time this time NLUK.....

[strawberrysmoothie]

Pile of rubbish. THere is a balance. Being a contractor does not mean you cannot balance yours and the clients needs. It might be YOUR mantra but don't link it to being a contractor

That's your opinion. I don't have to agree with you. There's a difference between a helping a client out and allowing them to take liberties on a day you don't have to work. So don't put words into my mouth.

So let agree to disagree.

[northernladuk]

Day 36 in the PsychoCandy gig, it's 12.40 and PC is at his PC typing....

To be honest, if it wasnt so close to home, I would be seriously considering my future here. I know I'm a contractor and try to let a lot of it wash over me because at the end of the days its the clients product, their support people, their customer so why do I care but it gets very draining.

Completely useless management, nothing gets done properly. And everything is done last minute without planning and they expect everyone to jump.

Off-shore support/dev teams which are completely useless, and mgmt expect things to work without problems.

I've been very flexible with them so far but its getting too much at the moment. The old saying - piss poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine rings very true at the moment!

[psychocandy]

To be honest, if it wasnt so close to home, I would be seriously considering my future here. I know I'm a contractor and try to let a lot of it wash over me because at the end of the days its the clients product, their support people, their customer so why do I care but it gets very draining.

Completely useless management, nothing gets done properly. And everything is done last minute without planning and they expect everyone to jump.

Off-shore support/dev teams which are completely useless, and mgmt expect things to work without problems.

I've been very flexible with them so far but its getting too much at the moment. The old saying - piss poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine rings very true at the moment!

[northernladuk]

I second that. I wouldn't' work for free. I'm a contractor and not a volunteer.

Pile of rubbish. THere is a balance. Being a contractor does not mean you cannot balance yours and the clients needs. It might be YOUR mantra but don't link it to being a contractor

[strawberrysmoothie]

Then i wouldnt be working weekends without billing!!

I second that. I wouldn't' work for free. I'm a contractor and not a volunteer.

[scooby]

LOL. You obviously dont work for my client. They;re not that organised....

Then i wouldnt be working weekends without billing!!

[psychocandy]

Are the project tasks and resource aligned to run and be delivered over a weekend? As a PM, I wouldnt contact anyone not aligned for work that weekend...

LOL. You obviously dont work for my client. They;re not that organised....

[scooby]

OK. Fair does but client PM phones with urgent query wanting to know whats going on? Do you ignore until monday or call back?

Are the project tasks and resource aligned to run and be delivered over a weekend? As a PM, I wouldnt contact anyone not aligned for work that weekend...

[psychocandy]

For out of hours or during the day.

Unless I was contracted in someway, I wouldn't be answering out of hours.

Why bother with the hassle of a seperate sim card?

If it's a number you recognise, answer it. Anything else, let it go to voicemail, if it's important they'll leave a message just like the end client co will/

OK. Fair does but client PM phones with urgent query wanting to know whats going on? Do you ignore until monday or call back?

[psychocandy]

Where does "any amount of work for a client in any 24 hour period" appear in the phrase "Professional Working Day" ?

Boo2

To be honest, dont really think a client would be over-impressed if you billed a whole day for one 5 min phone call?

[Boo]

As for "Professional Working Day", it means what is says. If I do any amount of work for a client in any 24 hour period, they get an invoice for a day's work at the rate inthe contract.

Where does "any amount of work for a client in any 24 hour period" appear in the phrase "Professional Working Day" ?

Boo2

[jmo21]

Of course, no company mobile for contractors (and neither would I take one off them!) so my own number is listed for people to use.

Seriously thinking of getting a separate simcard for daytime use and out of hours use....

For out of hours or during the day.

Unless I was contracted in someway, I wouldn't be answering out of hours.

Why bother with the hassle of a seperate sim card?

If it's a number you recognise, answer it. Anything else, let it go to voicemail, if it's important they'll leave a message just like the end client co will/

[psychocandy]

What if you hired a plasterer to plaster all the walls in your house, and when he was half way through one of the bedroom ones, the wife threw an iron at you in the living room, you ducked and it went through the wall there. You ave guests coming round and want it to look presentable.

Would you expect the plasterer to stamp his feet and spit his dummy out because your priorities have changed? Or would you expect him to just do the fookin job?

D&C my arse.

BJ has a good point. If you hire a plasterer hes going to do what you say within reason since you;re the one paying him.

[psychocandy]

This is why I have two phones, my personal one and a "burn phone" that anyone at client co can have but I only answer when I billing, which the SIM card is thrown away at the end of the gig

Might do that soon....