Reply to: Full remote working - Perm or contract

[LondonManc]

Agreed. However one must understand the difference between a tight contract and and an over granular one.

Over granuarlar is fustrating for both parties and the clientco may ride over you. Flexibility and good working dynamics are key -within the framework of a clear, tight contract.

I have long considered that contractors that have never participated in an RFP/RFQ/SOW excercise are at a disadvantage to those who have.

Correct. If doing a fixed price piece, I'd want to nail the scope of what's included and what isn't rather than try and define the solution too precisely. The only thing I've seen with fixed price is that it can generate a them v us attitude of trying to stiff the fixed price worker for as much as possible, but that may just be personal experience rather than the general way of the world on fixed-price IT contracts.

[MrMarkyMark]

Agreed. However one must understand the difference between a tight contract and and an over granular one.

Over granuarlar is fustrating for both parties and the clientco may ride over you. Flexibility and good working dynamics are key -within the framework of a clear, tight contract.

I have long considered that contractors that have never participated in an RFP/RFQ/SOW excercise are at a disadvantage to those who have.

Agreed, although I have only done similar exercises.

For example, recommending what needs to be done with cost based risk analysis provided, planned then resourced it, then got budget for 8 contractors of my choosing.

Which is why wherever possible get yourself on a different cost centre, or project code to the run of the mill contractors if positioning yourself as a consultant.

Case example: I was doing strategic alliance consultancy on intelligent cities. Position myself outside of IT and ended up on same cost centre as legal. 40k (eur) a month invoices were at the bottom of a any spreadsheet in that bucket.

Rant about many contractors not understanding business fundamentals placeholder here.

Regulatory budgets are good to be on where I am

Many being the operative word.
Some couldn't negotiate their way out of a paper bag

[clearedforlanding]

Very good point .

I know for a fact that certain IBs run reports to work out who are on rates >= £700 PD.
If working for them you are better off remaining below that figure, as you will not get "looked at" on a regular basis.

If you are direct with client yes. If going through an agency, the agency are going to push for as much as they can get anyway and increase their margins.

The perception that you are earning more than you are can lead to ridiculous expectations at clientco.

[clearedforlanding]

Very good point .

I know for a fact that certain IBs run reports to work out who are on rates >= £700 PD.
If working for them you are better off remaining below that figure, as you will not get "looked at" on a regular basis.

Which is why wherever possible get yourself on a different cost centre, or project code to the run of the mill contractors if positioning yourself as a consultant.

Case example: I was doing strategic alliance consultancy on intelligent cities. Position myself outside of IT and ended up on same cost centre as legal. 40k (eur) a month invoices were at the bottom of a any spreadsheet in that bucket.

Rant about many contractors not understanding business fundamentals placeholder here.

[clearedforlanding]

It can but that contract would have to super tight and cover what they have to deliver to you and by when, with penalties applied.

Agreed. However one must understand the difference between a tight contract and and an over granular one.

Over granuarlar is fustrating for both parties and the clientco may ride over you. Flexibility and good working dynamics are key -within the framework of a clear, tight contract.

I have long considered that contractors that have never participated in an RFP/RFQ/SOW excercise are at a disadvantage to those who have.

[MrMarkyMark]

This. Also if you position yourself as a specialist consultant as opposed to a contractor, a higher price point can work in your favour as the perceived value is increased.

It can but that contract would have to super tight and cover what they have to deliver to you and by when, with penalties applied.

[MrMarkyMark]

Fixed price! I cannot offer that. My work is too complex and prototype based to be planable to that degree from the start.

Dropping the rate a little (not much) is a good short term strat. You can push it up once they are dependent on you. Never want your rate to be at the top of a spreadsheet. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Very good point .

I know for a fact that certain IBs run reports to work out who are on rates >= £700 PD.
If working for them you are better off remaining below that figure, as you will not get "looked at" on a regular basis.

[clearedforlanding]

I work no more than 30 hours at home, same as the office when I used to.

Never taken a drop in pay to tempt client. I tempt them in other way, such as fixed price. If a client wants cheaper I shown them the door. Never undervalue your skills.

This. Also if you position yourself as a specialist consultant as opposed to a contractor, a higher price point can work in your favour as the perceived value is increased.

Hairdressers are a good case study in price positioning.

[Fronttoback]

I work no more than 30 hours at home, same as the office when I used to.

Never taken a drop in pay to tempt client. I tempt them in other way, such as fixed price. If a client wants cheaper I shown them the door. Never undervalue your skills.

Fixed price! I cannot offer that. My work is too complex and prototype based to be planable to that degree from the start.

Dropping the rate a little (not much) is a good short term strat. You can push it up once they are dependent on you. Never want your rate to be at the top of a spreadsheet. It's a marathon not a sprint.

[MrMarkyMark]

It's because they get less work out of you when you are working remotely. And if that is not the case for you, then you are not working well enough when onsite. Comms overhead mainly.

Secondly, they have to discourage it or the entire team would want it. Generally for the employer, it's better to have you onsite.

Thirdly, I offer a discounted rate in order to tempt them into wfh. I've done three gigs like this now.

Depends on exactly what you do, surely?

As I said clients tend to get more from me WFH.
I only have a couple of regular meetings, each week, in any case any of these can be dial in.

Obviously, up to you if you wish to make yourself cheaper, I personally don't take this approach but everyone's situation is different.

[woohoo]

I worked remotely for two years on an 18 month and then a six month contract. Specialist financial applications.

The problem I had was after all that time I suffered from lack of motivation. I started out OK but after a while I found I was getting more and more distracted and depended on deadlines to get me to focus.

It's great in the short term or for one or two days a week. In the long term I'm not convinced it's conducive to getting lots done.

Everyone is different though.

Worked from home now for several years on and off. I usually find that the work is the demotivating bit, if it's same same then I get bored. But working from home is great but then I'm naturally an introvert so perhaps that helps.

Working on an interesting bit of work at the moment, so did a bit Sunday, started early today. It's the work that keeps me motivated not the place I do the work.

[scooterscot]

It's because they get less work out of you when you are working remotely. And if that is not the case for you, then you are not working well enough when onsite. Comms overhead mainly.

Secondly, they have to discourage it or the entire team would want it. Generally for the employer, it's better to have you onsite.

Thirdly, I offer a discounted rate in order to tempt them into wfh. I've done three gigs like this now.

I work no more than 30 hours at home, same as the office when I used to.

Never taken a drop in pay to tempt client. I tempt them in other way, such as fixed price. If a client wants cheaper I shown them the door. Never undervalue your skills.

[Fronttoback]

I don't understand taking a drop in pay to work remote. If anything my rate has increased working remote. If employers are paying you to commute rather than for your skills then they misinterpret the value of your skills, in my opinion. Any time I've dropped my rate I feel I get landed with more demands from such clients. It'll only make you bitter in the end.

It is a bit like me demanding a pay increase because the rate of inflation has increased. What has the rate of inflation got to do with my employer?

It's because they get less work out of you when you are working remotely. And if that is not the case for you, then you are not working well enough when onsite. Comms overhead mainly.

Secondly, they have to discourage it or the entire team would want it. Generally for the employer, it's better to have you onsite.

Thirdly, I offer a discounted rate in order to tempt them into wfh. I've done three gigs like this now.

[MrMarkyMark]

I don't understand taking a drop in pay to work remote. If anything my rate has increased working remote. If employers are paying you to commute rather than for your skills then they misinterpret the value of your skills, in my opinion. Any time I've dropped my rate I feel I get landed with more demands from such clients. It'll only make you bitter in the end.

It is a bit like me demanding a pay increase because the rate of inflation has increased. What has the rate of inflation got to do with my employer?

I don't either.

In fact clients get better value out of me when I WFH.

[Fronttoback]

+1

I'd rather work from home 3 days a week for the rest of my working life than get 12-month contracts that are fully from home. Cabin fever kicks in quite quickly after the initial burst of enthusiasm, novelty and productivity has worn off.

Hot desking makes it work. Working from the house every day would be grim. Rent a desk in a hotdesking facility - that's what I do 4 days a week and do 1 day from home. My day at home is only done so that I can get down my local pub when my friends finish work for the week. You have to manage the downside to make it work. Brain dead wfh doesn't work long term.