Reply to: Do contractors have to take a lunch break?

[Pogle]

We have had the same problems here which resulted in two contractors being dismissed and a general Friday and Monday home working ban. There will always be people who take the piss if the clients attitude is too relaxed. For me you prove yourself before asking for work from home. If you are a clock watching slacker in the office who reads the papers and facebooks too much you don't get WFH.

Not answering your phone and your communicator being AFK for long periods whilst WFH is just suicide but it happens.

Totally agree, I always prove myself before requesting WFH at renewal time and I usually get it and I don't take the piss. I'm currently WFH on Mondays and Fridays and it makes a big difference to only be away two nights a week. I also do not have any internet access at work apart from my phone, It may cut down on my CUK time, but I get a lot more done

[moggy]

On working hours, and breaks:

Working Time Regulations 2012, Working Hours, Rest Breaks, Holiday Entitlements, Working Time Directive, Bank Holidays

Also of note:

https://www.gov.uk/contract-types-an...nd-contractors

I know some clients consider taking breaks as a health and safety issue and therefore insist, and to enforce it they won't pay for x amount of time during the time that you are on site, so you may as well take the break.

WHS - I would think that if your a nurse for instance then the breaks are a must for health and safety reasons.

[psychocandy]

I get into work at 07:30 and leave at 18:00. I eat lunch at my desk. My associates don't believe I have a plan to leave early, that yours do says something about you...

Boo

Why? are you paid hourly then?

Otherwise, what are you hoping to achieve? Serious question - not having a dig.

[hyperD]

I get into work at 07:30 and leave at 18:00. I eat lunch at my desk. My associates don't believe I have a plan to leave early, that yours do says something about you...

Boo

Steady on old chap, no need to get aggressive, just be polite on a business forum. OK?

[FarmerPalmer]

On working hours, and breaks:

Working Time Regulations 2012, Working Hours, Rest Breaks, Holiday Entitlements, Working Time Directive, Bank Holidays

Also of note:

https://www.gov.uk/contract-types-an...nd-contractors

I know some clients consider taking breaks as a health and safety issue and therefore insist, and to enforce it they won't pay for x amount of time during the time that you are on site, so you may as well take the break.

[kingcook]

I get into work at 07:30 and leave at 18:00. I eat lunch at my desk. My associates don't believe I have a plan to leave early, that yours do says something about you...

If you want to burn yourself out, go right ahead.

[Boo]

And if you sit there munching your sarnie whild doing something else at your desk you will piss everyone off royally. That isn't working through your lunch, that is having your lunch at your desk. This is obviously part of your plan to go home early which won't endear you to your colleagues and boss.

I get into work at 07:30 and leave at 18:00. I eat lunch at my desk. My associates don't believe I have a plan to leave early, that yours do says something about you...

Boo

[thunderlizard]

Is it a legal requirement to take a lunchbreak? Can I work through lunch with no questions asked?

I've worked through Lord knows how many lunches in my dozen contracting years, and the only question I've ever been asked is occasionally "Can I interrupt you about xyz for a minute, or should I come back when you've finished your lunch?"

[Taita]

Is it a legal requirement to take a lunchbreak? Can I work through lunch with no questions asked?

This could be another instance of a site rule that is not properly explained because nobody knows/remembers why it exists.

It is probably in employment law (under health and safety - like 20 days paid holiday for all employees) and maybe should not apply to contractors but it is easier to implement without exceptions so they apply it across the board.

[northernladuk]

Unfortunately, even though more work can and often is done from home, the perception is that less is done, particularly if you work from home on a Friday or Monday.

We have had the same problems here which resulted in two contractors being dismissed and a general Friday and Monday home working ban. There will always be people who take the piss if the clients attitude is too relaxed. For me you prove yourself before asking for work from home. If you are a clock watching slacker in the office who reads the papers and facebooks too much you don't get WFH.

Not answering your phone and your communicator being AFK for long periods whilst WFH is just suicide but it happens.

[moggy]

I actually do twice as much working from home.

Quite a few clients have found some people do more while others do less and contractors normally fall into the first group.

Unfortunately, even though more work can and often is done from home, the perception is that less is done, particularly if you work from home on a Friday or Monday.

[SueEllen]

Because everyone would do half the work they do now, which already isnt a full day for most permies.

I actually do twice as much working from home.

Quite a few clients have found some people do more while others do less and contractors normally fall into the first group.

[Scrag Meister]

Work - Smoke - Work - Smoke - Sandwich at desk - Work - Smoke - Work - Home


The only DC I have had so far is please don't work at home on a Tuesday as the main PM is in the office and its easier for meetings.

Sounds fair enough.

Having said that the connection mechanism used between home and ClientCo network is a dog and soooo slow, so I prefer to be in the office, its too frstrating waiting 30 mins at home for something to run that takes 2 in the office.

MSTSC remote to a PC in the office at previous ClientCo and that meant no need to take laptop home and that I could make use of my kick as5 machine at home.

[escapeUK]

That and the reluctance in accepting "working from home" as the new working paradigm is still a mystery to me...

Because everyone would do half the work they do now, which already isnt a full day for most permies.

[northernladuk]

QFT

The saying goes - no-one sees you arriving early, but everyone sees you leaving early.

The converse is also unforunately true. Everyone sees you coming in late but doesn't see you going home late.