Reply to: Nothing Left to do - New contract

[rurffy]

I never realised what a under-utilised and expensive resource contractors are!

My workload has all but come to a halt, and in a meeting this morning asked what the pipeline was like.

I have also been extended for another few weeks.
Money for (doing) nothing!!

And you feckers winge at recruiters!

When the real work comes - you will be surprised how much you have forgotten.. and even reluctant to do the real work - stalling it to elapse more time.

[northernladuk]

But i still dont mind - what ever keeps me busy .

So you are not really bothered about your IR35 status then?

[rurffy]

Question is.. Is it work that is detailed on your deliverables or is it just anything else they can find unrelated to what you were brought in for?

But i still dont mind - what ever keeps me busy .

[northernladuk]

ok so i think since i posted this here last week or so - i have had loads of work to do at work.

i guess my manager is active on this forum ha!

I dont even have time to do anything -before i know it - its 5PM yeppi! more like what i want.

So if you are my manager and reading this - Thanks man lol

Question is.. Is it work that is detailed on your deliverables or is it just anything else they can find unrelated to what you were brought in for?

[evilagent]

I never realised what a under-utilised and expensive resource contractors are!

My workload has all but come to a halt, and in a meeting this morning asked what the pipeline was like.

I have also been extended for another few weeks.
Money for (doing) nothing!!

And you feckers winge at recruiters!

[rurffy]

ok so i think since i posted this here last week or so - i have had loads of work to do at work.

i guess my manager is active on this forum ha!

I dont even have time to do anything -before i know it - its 5PM yeppi! more like what i want.

So if you are my manager and reading this - Thanks man lol

[northernladuk]

Exactly. OP has fulfilled his contractual obligation so no one is left in the lurch.

[eek]

Did NLUK just advise leaving contract before the end date?!

yes but there is a proviso that all the work you have been brought in to do has been done.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Totally this







Absolutely this. I remember once waiting for some work to start, weeks of creating powerpoints, cleaning up sharepoint etc and it dragged on and on and finally when the work got released I was bordering on useless. Just couldn't nail the work like I like to do. Not a piece of work I was proud of.


IMO if there is really nothing left to do then your work there is done. Look for a new gig, negotiate an exit that suits you with the client and leave. For sanity and your IR35's sake.

Did NLUK just advise leaving contract before the end date?!

[psychocandy]

+1
Very hard to ramp up from doing nothing. Had lots of contracts like this, which kept getting extended.
Week or so after an extension, I happily go and see client, explain I am on top of current workload and happy to take on any additional work needed and not fussy what it is as long as I am helping out.
This has rarely (never)produced anything beyond a few extra bits and has never resulted in the contract finishing.
As one chap said, ok you only have half a workload but if you go I have to find someone to do that half and every perm says they are maxed out. Plus, keeping someone is a LOT easier than trying to get someone new in, get budget authorised, justify to seniors etc.
Coping strategy - wfh is obviously brilliant, after asking for extra work my conscience is clear so working hours get a big cut back (9-4 in one gig + played footy 2 lunchtimes a week). Long lunch likewise. Get a break booked a few months ahead (always helps you keep going). I monitor investments etc which helps too, learn some stuff etc.
I wouldn't chuck it back in unless I had a better option tho because no guarantee the next one is any different !!

If you can WFH then you're sorted. If mgr is happy working is done then I guess they dont care what else you do.

Jeremy Kyle while you work?

[lukemg]

+1
Very hard to ramp up from doing nothing. Had lots of contracts like this, which kept getting extended.
Week or so after an extension, I happily go and see client, explain I am on top of current workload and happy to take on any additional work needed and not fussy what it is as long as I am helping out.
This has rarely (never)produced anything beyond a few extra bits and has never resulted in the contract finishing.
As one chap said, ok you only have half a workload but if you go I have to find someone to do that half and every perm says they are maxed out. Plus, keeping someone is a LOT easier than trying to get someone new in, get budget authorised, justify to seniors etc.
Coping strategy - wfh is obviously brilliant, after asking for extra work my conscience is clear so working hours get a big cut back (9-4 in one gig + played footy 2 lunchtimes a week). Long lunch likewise. Get a break booked a few months ahead (always helps you keep going). I monitor investments etc which helps too, learn some stuff etc.
I wouldn't chuck it back in unless I had a better option tho because no guarantee the next one is any different !!

[SeekingIT]

Indeed!!!

This last bit is a weird but true one. I was in my first job for 2 years, but by the second year I could (at a push) easily get a weeks worth of work done in a day leaving me hours each week with nothing to do. At first I tried to fill my time, but by the time I needed to leave, I could barely be bothered to do the bare minimum. It's strange - the less you have to do, the more motivation it takes to do it!

This is So true........

[rurffy]

Been in gigs like this. Its all well and good thinking great I can do other stuff but it does do your head in eventually.

Sometimes amazes me why clients think they need an extra person/contractor. Many times I've got to site and not even had a PC/access for weeks. Then when you do no-one can be arsed to bother with you.

Exactly!! - also been a small environment, theres little or nothing you could do. nothing to enhance or re-engineer - Anyways i guess i have to sit here till the last day Loads of money in my pocket anyway .

[psychocandy]

Been in gigs like this. Its all well and good thinking great I can do other stuff but it does do your head in eventually.

Sometimes amazes me why clients think they need an extra person/contractor. Many times I've got to site and not even had a PC/access for weeks. Then when you do no-one can be arsed to bother with you.

[northernladuk]

If they're paying you when there's no work then that suggests employment and being inside IR35.

Totally this

If they're not called Pete it could get a bit tricky.

It can get a bit too much, you reach the point where reading blogs and forums (proper work ones, not CUK) becomes boring and you just have to find some other position or sit clock watching all day. It's one thing being self motivated but eventually the pointlessness of it all gets to you and even the occasional bit of real work becomes a chore.

Absolutely this. I remember once waiting for some work to start, weeks of creating powerpoints, cleaning up sharepoint etc and it dragged on and on and finally when the work got released I was bordering on useless. Just couldn't nail the work like I like to do. Not a piece of work I was proud of.


IMO if there is really nothing left to do then your work there is done. Look for a new gig, negotiate an exit that suits you with the client and leave. For sanity and your IR35's sake.