Reply to: unplanned weekend work - what rate should I look for?

[psychocandy]

It took a long time to sort this out, mostly because of a pletora of actors involved... In the end, we agreed on a 15% premium on my daily rate. I think it's fair enough to recognize the w/e work done at short notice.

What I've learned is - unless agreed in advance, accepting your "normal" daily rate for w/e unplanned work is very dangerous - expect your client to contact you anytime with the same request!
I've also learned that while I'd be happy to be paid twice my rate, it's probably above what most clients are prepared or even able to afford - it can be obtained, but you might lose the client or the good relationship you have.

Just my 2p worth, but I hope it can be of help to someone else in the future!

15% - is it worth it?

Yep. Usually find the client will assume its normal rate and/or want something for nothing.

[luki]

final outcome

It took a long time to sort this out, mostly because of a pletora of actors involved... In the end, we agreed on a 15% premium on my daily rate. I think it's fair enough to recognize the w/e work done at short notice.

What I've learned is - unless agreed in advance, accepting your "normal" daily rate for w/e unplanned work is very dangerous - expect your client to contact you anytime with the same request!
I've also learned that while I'd be happy to be paid twice my rate, it's probably above what most clients are prepared or even able to afford - it can be obtained, but you might lose the client or the good relationship you have.

Just my 2p worth, but I hope it can be of help to someone else in the future!

[DirtyDog]

If you are going to charge a premium for your time, which isn't specified on the contract, then you may be best to have a separate invoice to cover that.

If you include it in one, and they argue it, then that whole invoice is delayed while you resolve the issue; if you have a separate invoice just for the additional time, and they argue it, then they cannot (without penalty) withhold any other payments due just because of the disagreement over the weekend time.

[Wanderer]

the project manager I work for, called me on Saturday at 10am asking for me to work during the weekend as a colleague had an emergency and could not carry out the work he was supposed to, a delivery for Monday morning. I have agreed however we didn't discuss about the compensation for such unplanned weekend work. My mistake here, I know; the relationship with the employer is good, but I'd like some advice about what I should realistically ask for. The usual daily rate seems unfair to me consider that it was unplanned. Thanks in advance for your help!

Lots of options, take your pick!

1. Invoice the client for double time for the weekend work
2. Invoice a normal day or pro-rata hourly rate for the weekend
3. Tell the client that you are going to take time off in lieu for the time worked
4. Smile and tell them that you are happy to help them out of a tough situation in an emergency and you are giving this one to them as a gesture of good will.

I would tend towards option 1 or 4 and try to avoid 2 and 3. Which one you choose depends on your business relationship with the client...

Option 1 shows them that you are a serious business person who values their weekends highly and won't give them up lightly. No offence to the client is intended, make sure they understand that it's just business.

Option 4 shows good will but it also leaves them somewhat beholden to you. I don't mind this option if the problem was related to a project I was working on and if it is very rare. It may also be an indicator of fixing errors at your own cost should it come to an IR35 investigation.

[northernladuk]

Give us an update on your approach and outcome. Would be interesting to see how it goes.

[luki]

Thank you all for your answers, to clarify a few points, I've quantified the work to a total 6 hours on saturday, 10 on sunday - say 2 full working days. my feeling now is that it's all down to the client's "decency"

The "normal rate" stated in the contract is for service performed in Normal working hours (8 hours as defined somewhere else in the contract) on Normal working days (any day other than saturdays and sundays and bank / national holidays)

It is indeed my fault for not agreeing a rate in advance, as someone mentioned I did so to avoid "wasting" time and getting things done.

Once again, I appreciate your comments, I'll let them speak first and will update this later with the outcome!

[Platypus]

Unless it's discussed in advance, there's no reason you would charge other than your daily rate IMO, certainly for working on Saturday.

Agree, and also, don't sour the relationship for a few hundred quid

[d000hg]

Unless it's discussed in advance, there's no reason you would charge other than your daily rate IMO, certainly for working on Saturday.

[DirtyDog]

I thought the law was in the favour of the person that is losing out. The client has had his work, the contractor hasn't had his money so the bias would be the contractor in a case such as this. Purely hypothetical as no one would be stupid enough to take an issue like this legal.

Assuming that's true (and I don't know whether it is or isn't)...

If the client pays the standard rate, then you would have to prove that you are losing out. So the question comes down to what basis are you using to decide whether you are losing out or not - what you want, or what the contract says you are entitled to get?

Assuming that there is nothing referenced in the contract, then you might possibly be able to argue that morally you be paid a different rate for the work ("I wouldn't have done it for the standard rate"). Legally, though, you aren't going to win that argument.

[northernladuk]

Disagree completely - if that was true, then I'd work a weekend, rely on the rate not being in the contract, and then billing them £1billion for working that day.

You go with what is in the contract - if there is nothing in there for working non-standard hours, then you either agree beforehand, or bill at the standard rate.

I thought the law was in the favour of the person that is losing out. The client has had his work, the contractor hasn't had his money so the bias would be the contractor in a case such as this. Purely hypothetical as no one would be stupid enough to take an issue like this legal.

[DirtyDog]

Hmmm. A good argument and you could be right. Just comes down to individual clients and the size of the contractors cojones I guess. Both are strong arguments. I still think the contractor has a stronger one legally but will never go that far so a moot point I guess.

Disagree completely - if that was true, then I'd work a weekend, rely on the rate not being in the contract, and then billing them £1billion for working that day.

You go with what is in the contract - if there is nothing in there for working non-standard hours, then you either agree beforehand, or bill at the standard rate.

[Pondlife]

I would present it that you did them a huge favour and didn't stop to demand terms and conditions ironed out first. Appeal to their sense of decency.

WHS. (Using W+initials+S gets filtered)

I would make sure they're aware that they owe you one. Also, I don't think that invoicing based on some multiplier is going to work unless it's in the contract. At best I'd invoice for a standard day plus total travel time.

[northernladuk]

Not true, the ball can be firmly in the clients court since the work is done and they can refuse flat out to pay any premium for it. Some clients would baulk at paying a proportion of the day rate.
It's pretty much vital to lay the payment ground rules before the work is done, after the fact you're looking at good will.

Hmmm. A good argument and you could be right. Just comes down to individual clients and the size of the contractors cojones I guess. Both are strong arguments. I still think the contractor has a stronger one legally but will never go that far so a moot point I guess.

[TykeMerc]

Tell him you are going to bill whatever you want and then start discussions. He has entered a grey area that hasn't been discussed so the ball is firmly in your court to start the negotiations off. You want £xxx for the day and then let them go sweat it out. Very little they can do bearing in mind you have done it.

Not true, the ball can be firmly in the clients court since the work is done and they can refuse flat out to pay any premium for it. Some clients would baulk at paying a proportion of the day rate.
It's pretty much vital to lay the payment ground rules before the work is done, after the fact you're looking at good will.

[psychocandy]

Two words - caller ID.

Agreed. Never let client phone you at the weekend.
Can guarantee they won't want to pay a premium rate also. They never do.

I had umpteen occasions on one contract where there was an 'emergency' on a friday that just had to be sorted at the weekend. I couldn't even get them to authorise a standard day rate for the saturday. Usually it then all calmed down and was no longer an emergency when they realised me working saturday would not be for free as they thought (and other contractor/permies often did).