holiday during notice period

[Sausage Surprise]

Ever thought about using paragraphs. That is bloody awful to read.

I didn't bother after the first line. The backs of my eyes started to hurt.

[speling bee]

Ever thought about using paragraphs?

That is bloody awful to read.

FTFY

[northernladuk]

Most people would already have planned a summer holiday in the next months. 1 or 2 weeks. So it is a dumb client, stakeholder who suddenly has an urgent requirement for a contractor resource as of 26 June 2014 and then does not take in account what normal people do in this country. Good project managers will know this and factor in that people tend to be away over the next couple of months and adapt the budget to getting somebody in and scoping the project dead lines. However, some businesses and their culture really treat their employee's like s*** no matter what their mission statements says and therefore you have to just front up before you sign the dotted line e.g. at interview time. At least you can say I told them and they were happy with this news or not. They can hire you or find the next fellow, then it is up to you trust their reactions or not. I suppose this is the work / life balance thing and a personal thing. Some contractors bend over backwards to whatever the client says. Some people who are not contractors even agree that you not take any holiday at all in 6 month contract. They think it will endanger work, prevent you getting an extension. IMO I don't agree with that view. The client might be an idiot or the client has bad office culture or working practice that was not apparent when interviewed with them. If the client is a good then build a relationship with them and then accept the renewal or move on to the next gig. I say take 1 week holiday in every 3 months is a good measure, which amounts to the standard 20 days is suitable. After all you aren't a slave. It is your life and contractors should have a lot of more freedom after all why do contracting if it is more painful than being permanent employee? ...

Ever thought about using paragraphs. That is bloody awful to read.

[rocktronAMP]

I usually try to build a holiday into the contract. For instance I was contracted recently for 20 days for a particular piece of work so my notice was already known, they had budgeted for 20 days and I had 20 days of work to do. But I wanted a few days off in the middle for a family holiday, so I checked that it was OK to take the time and it didn't conflict with any deadlines and still worked the 20 days - just added them on at the end.
I'm now on the next piece of work with the client, so clearly when you communicate your intentions it usually isn't a problem.

Most people would already have planned a summer holiday in the next months. 1 or 2 weeks. So it is a dumb client, stakeholder who suddenly has an urgent requirement for a contractor resource as of 26 June 2014 and then does not take in account what normal people do in this country. Good project managers will know this and factor in that people tend to be away over the next couple of months and adapt the budget to getting somebody in and scoping the project dead lines. However, some businesses and their culture really treat their employee's like s*** no matter what their mission statements says and therefore you have to just front up before you sign the dotted line e.g. at interview time. At least you can say I told them and they were happy with this news or not. They can hire you or find the next fellow, then it is up to you trust their reactions or not. I suppose this is the work / life balance thing and a personal thing. Some contractors bend over backwards to whatever the client says. Some people who are not contractors even agree that you not take any holiday at all in 6 month contract. They think it will endanger work, prevent you getting an extension. IMO I don't agree with that view. The client might be an idiot or the client has bad office culture or working practice that was not apparent when interviewed with them. If the client is a good then build a relationship with them and then accept the renewal or move on to the next gig. I say take 1 week holiday in every 3 months is a good measure, which amounts to the standard 20 days is suitable. After all you aren't a slave. It is your life and contractors should have a lot of more freedom after all why do contracting if it is more painful than being permanent employee? ...

[andyc2000]

Indeed but don't expect the client to be over the moon when you inform them you won't be available during notice periods. If your holiday just happens to coincide with the end of the contract it could be wise to make sure you are ready to leave on the spot in case he walks you there and then. Your leave my be a legitimate family holiday that's fallen badly but he is more likely to assume you are just ducking your notice period and will be very unhappy. IMO if that is what you are doing it's very bad form.

I usually try to build a holiday into the contract. For instance I was contracted recently for 20 days for a particular piece of work so my notice was already known, they had budgeted for 20 days and I had 20 days of work to do. But I wanted a few days off in the middle for a family holiday, so I checked that it was OK to take the time and it didn't conflict with any deadlines and still worked the 20 days - just added them on at the end.
I'm now on the next piece of work with the client, so clearly when you communicate your intentions it usually isn't a problem.

[northernladuk]

Indeed but don't expect the client to be over the moon when you inform them you won't be available during notice periods. If your holiday just happens to coincide with the end of the contract it could be wise to make sure you are ready to leave on the spot in case he walks you there and then. Your leave my be a legitimate family holiday that's fallen badly but he is more likely to assume you are just ducking your notice period and will be very unhappy. IMO if that is what you are doing it's very bad form.

[speling bee]

I believe one can old chap...just inform the client that you're unavailable for that period.

+1. The contract is the framework in which work may take place. Work may not be available to the contractor and the contractor may not be available to work.

I think. IANAL etc.

[Sausage Surprise]

I have searched the forum, could not find an answer (one post discussed about this, but was for a permie role).

Can one take days off during notice period ? (Nothing mentioned about this in my contract).
If I am on X days notice, does it include weekends ? (again nothing mentioned in my contract about it. It only says Notice period to the Agency X days.)
I can ask my agency, but may get a response X week days and no holiday during notice period, which I am not sure whether it is the case.

I believe one can old chap...just inform the client that you're unavailable for that period.

[speling bee]

I have searched the forum, could not find an answer (one post discussed about this, but was for a permie role).

Can one take days off during notice period ? (Nothing mentioned about this in my contract).
If I am on X days notice, does it include weekends ? (again nothing mentioned in my contract about it. It only says Notice period to the Agency X days.)
I can ask my agency, but may get a response X week days and no holiday during notice period, which I am not sure whether it is the case.

Advise your client of days when you are unavailable for work and offer to get a sub in if it suits them.

[northernladuk]

If the contract is silent on the matter, then it is open to interpretation and negotiation by both parties.

I would tend to agree but personally I would assume it is working days but if I really needed to be out quick and had little choice I would argue it included weekends. The actual number of days is going to be the clue. If it's 5 or 10 days then pretty safe to assume its working days. If it's 7 or 14 days you could assume its every day.

Contractors don't take holidays so second issue is irrelevant.

[northernladuk]

Holidays and notice periods are for permies.

[CheeseSlice]

Who gave notice?
What work is there left to do?
Does client want a handover?

You should be glad NLUK hasn't found this post yet.

[tractor]

I have searched the forum, could not find an answer (one post discussed about this, but was for a permie role).

Can one take days off during notice period ? (Nothing mentioned about this in my contract).
If I am on X days notice, does it include weekends ? (again nothing mentioned in my contract about it. It only says Notice period to the Agency X days.)
I can ask my agency, but may get a response X week days and no holiday during notice period, which I am not sure whether it is the case.

If the contract is silent on the matter, then it is open to interpretation and negotiation by both parties.

[raphal]

I have searched the forum, could not find an answer (one post discussed about this, but was for a permie role).

Can one take days off during notice period ? (Nothing mentioned about this in my contract).
If I am on X days notice, does it include weekends ? (again nothing mentioned in my contract about it. It only says Notice period to the Agency X days.)
I can ask my agency, but may get a response X week days and no holiday during notice period, which I am not sure whether it is the case.