Reply to: Taking 2 weeks out in the middle of a 6 month contract

[TheMonkey]

And they know you'll be desperate to get back to work after a week anyway...

Yeah so I can get some sleep. This is the second one so I'm used to power-sleeping on tubes and trams.

Had the interview today, nailed it and managed to get the job for the next 6 months (even though I turned up in jeans, trainers and a t-shirt!). Sorted 2 weeks off. Total cash sum is VERY nice too

Joy to the internet start ups! Now to face the battle of keeping them alive long enough to get paid.

[Mordac]

Surely they understand how important it is to be available for the birth of your child!

And they know you'll be desperate to get back to work after a week anyway...

[malandri]

I started my first contract with a client in November last year. 3 months later, after the first renewal, I told them that I will need to be off all July as I am getting married abroad + honeymoon. They didn't have any issue at all. Just got my second renewal till end of September...

Just ask them. Surely they understand how important it is to be available for the birth of your child!

[TheMonkey]

[QUOTE=el duder]

Good question: Has anyone experienced "escaping" for 2 weeks during a longish term contract? QUOTE]


NEVER.

i contract till i die.

You shall die young then.

[el duder]

[QUOTE=TheMonkey]Good question: Has anyone experienced "escaping" for 2 weeks during a longish term contract? QUOTE]


NEVER.

i contract till i die.

[TheMonkey]

I might try that one. It worked on my last contract where I was off at the hospital for about a week.

[Spacecadet]

I'm in a similar position just that i'm getting married rather than attending my kids arrival.

Didn't bother saying anything at the start as i really needed the contract, told them last week i can't work between x and y dates for personal reasons (They don't need to know why). They said fine and just want something in writing that i'm not going to piss off permanently. Objectives and time scales pre 2 week departure are still to be agreed but as long as everything doesn't start running more than a week late then the hand over should be fine and a small pause in the project is easily workable.

[malvolio]

1 of my roles is support. That requires me to be there when my customers are.

And of course, like all outsourced support organisations, you do it on a T&M basis...

[The Lone Gunman]

In terms of IR35, isn't one of the things that works in your favour if you dictate when you work and when you don't?

YES and that goes to show the lack of understanding of this or any other business.
1 of my roles is support. That requires me to be there when my customers are.

[expat]

Good question: Has anyone experienced "escaping" for 2 weeks during a longish term contract?

I am faced with a problem - my wife is due to pop on 10th September but I've got offers for 2x 6 month contracts which are actually really good. Does anyone know if people generally budge on asking for 2 weeks off mid-contract (unpaid of course!) or do I need to find a substitute?

Whether or not you set your own hours during the contract, this one is easy. You get the client's interest, then before the contract is drawn up, you mention that you will not be available for a specified 2 weeks. Either they still find you a good match for their needs, or they don't. You get it agreed then, either as 24 weeks, or as 26 weeks with a gap.

If they don't like it, don't take it.

[NewBoy]

In terms of IR35, isn't one of the things that works in your favour if you dictate when you work and when you don't?

[TheMonkey]

My intention is to contract for n-weeks+2 to deliver product X. I am going to tell them that I've got to take 2 weeks out of the schedule as my wife is going to be giving birth.

Do you think that'll swing with them and avoid IR35?

I've also got some other work going on as well for about 5 hours a week of support.

[malvolio]

Not saying that we should - but if I'm not working for a client, they don't get charged, mainly becuase that is one sixth of a non-IR35 ruling. It doesn't affect the end date of the contract.

I've had this argument before somewhrere (may not have been on CUK!). Irrespective of what we are actually doing, 95% of contracts between end client and agency will be for a period of work with a cost not to exceed so many days at whatever rate. If you start allowing extensions on the end date because of a non-appearance at some point during the contract, you are launching yourself straight into MOO and inside-IR35, so you may as well go for a permie role and get the benefits.

[The Lone Gunman]

Whoa - we're freelancers, not employees. We don't do holidays, we certainly don't add them to the end of the contract if we do have some time away elsewhere.

The idea is to deliver the work, not sit at a desk for x days. If a contractor takes a week off, you don't get charged for it - as long as the thing is delivered, why should you care?

And if you do want someone to sit at a desk for six months, get a permie - that's what they do.

Hang a moment there Malvolio, it's not often I take issue with you but... Not everyones business model is the same and nor are our clients. Not all of us have the luxury of a pre-defined work package.
Let's not get into the same mind set as HMG and HMRC as what is a legitimate business.

[malvolio]

Whoa - we're freelancers, not employees. We don't do holidays, we certainly don't add them to the end of the contract if we do have some time away elsewhere.

The idea is to deliver the work, not sit at a desk for x days. If a contractor takes a week off, you don't get charged for it - as long as the thing is delivered, why should you care?

And if you do want someone to sit at a desk for six months, get a permie - that's what they do.