Reply to: 15 degrees in the office - what would you do?

[threaded]

Down tools?
Live with it?

Tch, one morning the clients showers were only blowing cold. I just remarked how much like being back at school it was and got on with it.

threaded in "got to show johnny foreigner what a stiff upper lip is" mode

[kirk]

At the end of the day (it's night time, yeah I know!) the client and you have a responsibility for health and safety. If the client won't exercise their's excercise your own.

I finished a contract recently where, on the day I started I found out I ad no desk to work from. Just a small workbench with a monitor and k/board and piles of hardware equipment, loose software CD's etc etc stwen around the monitor. An absolute ******* tip. So I advised my agency and the client that I would be going home until they had a proper desk sorted out and duly charged them for the three days it took them to sort it out. H&S legislation can seem like a pussy's charter sometimes but you can sensibly put it to good use.

I bet that went down well with the client, especially come renewal time!

[kirk]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately I would have to down tools to go and fetch jumpers/socks etc.

The temperature has now climbed to a measly 17 degrees Centigrade with the help of human heat, PC heat, a little sun through the window and a couple of tiny fan heaters.

This has removed the legal option to down tools but its still bloody cold!!!!!

What kind of tools would you be downing? Your keyboard and mouse?!?

[zathras]

Down tools?
Live with it?

Think of the invoice and put a sweater on!

[DaveB]

Nothing wrong with a bit of heavy handedness.

"Peace through superior firepower", as the saying goes.

[The Farmer]

SWAT is just like SWOT, but with bigger & better guns.

HTH.

I prefer SWAT also.

Might be a bit heavy handed in this case though.

[The Farmer]

you would sit down and draw up a SWAT analysis documenting what the strengths and weaknesses are of this situation [Quote]

I thought it was

SWOT

Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats.

Has it changed?

[WotNxt]

At the end of the day (it's night time, yeah I know!) the client and you have a responsibility for health and safety. If the client won't exercise their's excercise your own.

I finished a contract recently where, on the day I started I found out I ad no desk to work from. Just a small workbench with a monitor and k/board and piles of hardware equipment, loose software CD's etc etc stwen around the monitor. An absolute ******* tip. So I advised my agency and the client that I would be going home until they had a proper desk sorted out and duly charged them for the three days it took them to sort it out. H&S legislation can seem like a pussy's charter sometimes but you can sensibly put it to good use.

I think you are 100% correct. We are not employed by the client so the primary responsibility for our working conditions does not rest with them. If the client cannot provide a safe and healthy working environment then it is our prerogative to reject that working environment for our own sakes and still bill for the time (as long as we remain available should the problem be resolved i.e. not go and get pissed in the pub).

[WotNxt]

A real entrepreneur would see this 'chilling' experience as a potentially hot money spinning business opportunity.

Instead of moaning about the cold, like an employee assessing their rights and insisting on a fan heater from their boss, you would sit down and draw up a SWAT analysis documenting what the strengths and weaknesses are of this situation is for your present business strategy. Then you would conclude that it is worth starting up knitting sideline called 'one plain, one pearl' and organise someone to knit yourself some thick socks and a scarf and woolly hat for you to wear on site. Then you can ensure you are outside of IR35 in the process by:

Claiming you are working on two contracts concurrently. Or else employ some elderly lady to work on site to knit them for you, utilising your rights of substitution.

You can then wear these garments on site and look such a berk that no one could possibly mistake you for a member of staff.

You are using your own equipment to do the job (de-icing your fingers)

ROFLMAO !!!!

I am not near the M3 nor in Belfast. Seems like this problem is quite widespread!

[Denny]

A real entrepreneur would see this 'chilling' experience as a potentially hot money spinning business opportunity.

Instead of moaning about the cold, like an employee assessing their rights and insisting on a fan heater from their boss, you would sit down and draw up a SWAT analysis documenting what the strengths and weaknesses are of this situation is for your present business strategy. Then you would conclude that it is worth starting up knitting sideline called 'one plain, one pearl' and organise someone to knit yourself some thick socks and a scarf and woolly hat for you to wear on site. Then you can ensure you are outside of IR35 in the process by:

Claiming you are working on two contracts concurrently. Or else employ some elderly lady to work on site to knit them for you, utilising your rights of substitution.

You can then wear these garments on site and look such a berk that no one could possibly mistake you for a member of staff.

You are using your own equipment to do the job (de-icing your fingers)

[RSoles]

Hmm, I've been having this problem, either 15 or 30,
seldom anywhere in between. Not in Belfast by any chance?

RS

[BrilloPad]

Down tools?
Live with it?

Sounds like perfect sleeping temperature to me - bring in a duvet and have a nap.

[MrsGoof]

Down tools?
Live with it?

are you in the same office as me, nr M3?

[Kyajae]

Down tools?
Live with it?

At the end of the day (it's night time, yeah I know!) the client and you have a responsibility for health and safety. If the client won't exercise their's excercise your own.

I finished a contract recently where, on the day I started I found out I ad no desk to work from. Just a small workbench with a monitor and k/board and piles of hardware equipment, loose software CD's etc etc stwen around the monitor. An absolute ******* tip. So I advised my agency and the client that I would be going home until they had a proper desk sorted out and duly charged them for the three days it took them to sort it out. H&S legislation can seem like a pussy's charter sometimes but you can sensibly put it to good use.

[Paddy]

Down tools?
Live with it?

Bring in or buy a fan heater. Been there etc, etc.

I also cary a fan heater with me when I stay in hotels as many of them have poor heating.