Reply to: Being bullied by my agent?

[Taita]

All of my contracts of employment (in my past permie days) always stated number of hours per week, e.g. 37.5, along with the usual "you may be expected to work extra hours for free from time to time" BS.

What is a day? 37.5 / 5? Not that i really care, just saying like...

In your example a working day is 7.5 hours including your lunch break.

Sorry. What I mean is that in permanent employment just showing up at work indicates that you attended, even if you go home immediately after you come in. The employer cannot claim that you had a day off through illness, capriciousness or as leave. You showed up so you were at work that day.

[kingcook]

Not that it automatically should apply to contracting but permies are legally entitled to claim they have been in for a day even if they leave after 5 minutes because of sickness. As we know, for ease of administration, clients often apply the same general rules across the board even if they cost more in contractor fees.

All of my contracts of employment (in my past permie days) always stated number of hours per week, e.g. 37.5, along with the usual "you may be expected to work extra hours for free from time to time" BS.

What is a day? 37.5 / 5? Not that i really care, just saying like...

[Taita]

I have often found this is the case. They are not all bad clients. These are the sort of situations where it's worth positively encouraging the give and take.

Not that it automatically should apply to contracting but permies are legally entitled to claim they have been in for a day even if they leave after 5 minutes because of sickness. As we know, for ease of administration, clients often apply the same general rules across the board even if they cost more in contractor fees.

[psychocandy]

It wouldn't surprise me if it was entirely deliberate on their part. Get you in the role, then try and hide the actual hours under the "it was small error, it'll look bad if you don't" argument.

Good point. Wouldnt put it past an agent to do that.

[TestMangler]

Working 8 hours instead of 7.5 hours per day means that the project gets completed 6.25% quicker.

Which means you'll be on the bench quicker.

93.75% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

With respect, that is wrong. It's 89.71 %

[psychocandy]

Working 8 hours instead of 7.5 hours per day means that the project gets completed 6.25% quicker.

Which means you'll be on the bench quicker.

93.75% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

LOL. Just spent 3 months working on something for client which has now been canned and they've gone back to first way I recommended. First thing I thought - oh well, thats 3 months extra here for me.

[kingcook]

Working 8 hours instead of 7.5 hours per day means that the project gets completed 6.25% quicker.

Which means you'll be on the bench quicker.

93.75% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[d000hg]

How does that achieve anything? He's still away from home that extra 30min every day. If you're going to be on site you might as well work.

[IR35FanClub]

I have signed a contract with AgentX wich says that I have to work 7.5 hours in the client. What happens is that the client obligates me to work 8. My current rate is 300 for 7.5, should I claim the difference? I mean for 8 hours it should be 320. They argued that they invoice per day so it doesnt matter how many hours I work... is this right/true? where is the limit? I mean what if I have to work 12 hours a day? or what if I decide to work only 2?

Stay on site for 8 hours and spend 1/2 hour surfing the net. Answering personal emails, phoning your accountant/bank manager/sex chat line.

And I forgot to add, most of my contracts are day rates anyway, and do about 9 hours on site, but [as my posting history will confirm] that isn't all productive.

[speling bee]

I'm enjoying the fact that people who spend all day posting on here are arguing whether 30mins extra is chargeable.

Send the invoice to the normal place.

[Pondlife]

I'm enjoying the fact that people who spend all day posting on here are arguing whether 30mins extra is chargeable.

[psychocandy]

I walked from a gig when client and agent tried to push it up from 7 to 8. I had a 3 and a half hour commute and took the gig over another for the 7 hours a day.

If it was local and half an hour I might not bother much, depends on how they asked me and any hint of them getting shirty and I would tell them to ram it.

Probably just stay the time and read the paper

Fair enough. If time is important then its an issue. In your case, the extra hour a day is important I guess.

3.5 hours each way? Surely not?

Not sure if I would have walked though. Probably would have stayed, worked 7 hours and waited for them to make the move and can me. i.e. got as much out of it as I could.

[psychocandy]

The difference being that the plumber would probably risk the loss of the entire job by telling you to f**k off and not lose any sleep over it. He certainly wouldn't go on a plumbing forum and ask what he should do with an awkward client who couldn't decide on what he wanted done.

I don't get the impression that the OP is in that position.

Yes. This is another point of view....

But how far you are willing to bend over and take it is the issue isn't it? Gotta draw the line somewhere...

[d000hg]

And of course If they readjust my contract to 8 I want also to readjust my rate.

Really? You would have not accepted the gig at the same rate if you were told it was 40hrs/week instead of £37.5?

[jmo21]

Some great posts and interesting view points. Personally I can't belive all this fuss for 30 mins. It's just ridiculous but that is my personal view and my working style.

You sound like the OP's wide boy agent

30 mins a day is £20 a day based on the OP's £300/7.5 hours.

That's £100/ week, £4600 / year (based on 46 weeks obv).

Look after the pennies and all that.

More importantly though, don't let the agent **** you.

It wouldn't surprise me if it was entirely deliberate on their part. Get you in the role, then try and hide the actual hours under the "it was small error, it'll look bad if you don't" argument.