Reply to: Working on two contracts at the same time

[NotAllThere]

I used to struggle with ethics.

So you moved to thuthics?

[northernladyuk]

Problem will arise if agent does a PES check and calls up your current client/agent to confirm your leaving date was X

Client says hang on I can see him at his desk

Isn't PES something to do with employment?

[tarbera]

Jfdi whats the worst that can happen?

Problem will arise if agent does a PES check and calls up your current client/agent to confirm your leaving date was X

Client says hang on I can see him at his desk

[GJABS]

If the contract does not specify otherwise, my take on it is that you are being paid for the first client to be available to work for them for a minimum amount of time up to the contractor-side notice period, whether there is work for you to do or not.
Therefore yes you can do a second contract to run alongside the first, but only if you can drop the second with no notice period should work be provided by the first.

The problem is that no-notice period contracts are rare (in my experience).

[LHM]

Thanks all. It is a short term thing through to the end of contract no 1, and so that I can get on-boarded quickly with the new client. I've arranged to bill by the hour so that I can do this in the evenings, and if I need to go and visit them in that time, I'll take a day 'holiday' to do this.

[scooterscot]

so I rarely charge one client for five days in a single week.

Ich auch..

[NotAllThere]

I used to struggle with ethics.

But then I realised I'm charging for my experience, knowledge, part project experience, not just time and material.

Working on multiple projects has its pitfalls, however, try and ensure you plan properly. Never found it possible to switch one day to the next for different clients. Perhaps one week here another there...

I frequently work on multiple contracts. My minimum granularity is the half-day. Hence some weeks, I might well bill for more than 5 days in total. However, the clients know I don't just work for them, so I rarely charge one client for five days in a single week.

[MrMarkyMark]

I used to struggle with ethics.

But then I realised I'm charging for my experience, knowledge, part project experience, not just time and material.

Working on multiple projects has its pitfalls, however, try and ensure you plan properly. Never found it possible to switch one day to the next for different clients. Perhaps one week here another there...

And just to think, lucky CUK gets all the benefits of those attributes free and gratis

[scooterscot]

It wouldn't be ethical to charge both companies and do half the work (unless you can work from home and there's feck all chance of getting caught out)

I used to struggle with ethics.

But then I realised I'm charging for my experience, knowledge, part project experience, not just time and material.

Working on multiple projects has its pitfalls, however, try and ensure you plan properly. Never found it possible to switch one day to the next for different clients. Perhaps one week here another there...

[northernladyuk]

A lawyer dies and goes to heaven.

[Paddy]

They work long days.

A lawyer dies and goes to heaven. “There must be some mistake. I’m only 55.” Saint Peter checks his book. “Actually, you’re late – we added up your billable hours and you’re 110 years old”.

[SueEllen]

Have you ever added up the hours a solicitor charges for?

They work long days.

[Paddy]

It wouldn't be ethical to charge both companies and do half the work (unless you can work from home and there's feck all chance of getting caught out)

I once did three contracts at the same time. 2 days, 1 day, 2 days etc, as they were all quite slow. This in fact, then backfired and it gave them all time to get their tulip together and I landed up running at 100mph all the time. So I've decided that I won't do that again.

Have you ever added up the hours on a solicitor charges for?

[original PM]

Hi all
I am working on a contract at the moment where there is literally zero work. Most of my tasks have been taken over by an over zealous permie counterpart in a muscling in kind of way. My protests have fallen on deaf ears, and rather than come across as petulant and possessive, I'm letting him get on with it to be honest. I'm billing as normal and all seems fine with that. I'm looking for something else and have been offered a new contract with a different company. They have asked me to do some work for them during my notice period, maybe 1 or 2 days. The double income seems really tempting, but I'm not sure whether this is acceptable or not. I would probably be at home during those days or even on the site of my new contract. Any advice appreciated.

Jfdi whats the worst that can happen?

[jamesbrown]

"Acceptable" is what the contract says. If the contract says that you're paid T&M for work done or that you cannot work for competitors (unlikely, and bad), then obviously it would be fraudulent and/or a breach of contract. If you're paid fixed price and you've delivered succesfully or the contract says that any notice should be paid regardless (bad for other reasons), then you can obviously bill. It isn't rocket science, but I suspect you're asking whether fraud is OK on a T&M contract....