Reply to: as a contractor, is it normal . . .

[monkey]

thank you

group hug. nice to get a sanity check.

[boredsenseless]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on
to be expected to use your own laptop
to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
and to expect to get sacked each evening

?

Using your own laptop - well I think its acceptable to expect a business to provide its staff with the basic tools of the trade, you'd be p1ssed off if as plumber came to your house and asked to borrow a wrench spanner and screwdriver, the only difference is laptops cost a bit more.

9 hours a day on a daily rate, well if its a daily rate then it should have a definition of a day in the contract, if it doesn't then you can use the standard UK day of somewhere between 7.5 and 8 hours of work (not lunches) anything else is goodwill on your part, and if done excessively should be highlighted.

Termination is the only sure thing in a contractors life, learn to love it for the opportunities it will bring to move on and get a more interesting gig next time

[MarillionFan]

I have a days work today. I dont know how I will cope!

[thunderlizard]

(a) to not have a ******* clue what's going on
(b) to be expected to use your own laptop
(c) to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
(d) and to expect to get sacked each evening--

(a) - yes, but contractors are generally pretty good at finding out things when they need yo
(b) - you're probably in a minority, but it's nothing untoward
(c) - well if it's a daily rate you work as many hours as you see fit. My daily rate is usually about 9.5 * usual hourly rate and I probably average 9h/d. The trick is to work erratic hours so that people think you're working the hours demanded by the job - not too much, not too little as the situation demands. Of course in reality your hours will be based around golf, big poker games, the Scunthorpe dogging scene, whatever
(d) - Generally not. Maybe you're on a dicey project, else you're paranoid.

[ratewhore]

fook me - 10 hour days? You should be putting your feet up on day 5 - not working from home...

[BoredBloke]

I'm using my own laptop because the one they provided me with is a heap of sh1t. I am on a daily rate and do 8 till 6. I do have the option from working from home on a Friday although I have not taken them up on it yet.

I have not yet been sacked on a daily basis though.

[ratewhore]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on
to be expected to use your own laptop
to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
and to expect to get sacked each evening

?

oh yes!
oh yes (you don't want to use the clients if you can help it anyway).
You're a sucker if you do, check your contract, it probably states what a working day or week is anyway. My client gets what they pay for...
N/A Check termination clause in contract.

[voron]

i always think i'm going to get sacked, perm or contract & i rarely have a clue what's going on.

You are a contractor, not a permie. Therefore you cannot be sacked, although you can have your contract terminated. That might sound like simple semantics but it's actually a mindset.

As for the second, that's pretty common. Permie management frequently fails to share important information with contractors (or permie staff). It's also comon for them to not understand what they need done; rather they have some vague idea that a contractor is needed and they will magically make the world right (hey, that's my last contract!).

[AlfredJPruffock]

Yes to the first anyhow. I have been here 3 months and I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing or what the company does. They have tried telling me once or twice but I wasn't really interested.

Excellent Xogggoth, thats the kind of attitude which wins those renewals,I find tutting when asked to something quite effective as well ...

[Bagpuss]

Monkey I'd have a word with tripitaka, he/she knows a thing or two. Failing that I'g get on your cloud and zip right out of there.

[monkey]

cheers guys

yup is 1st contract.

pros & cons. dosh is great but i have been stiffed for the extra hour. we started off with an hourly rate that was 'agreed' then they wanted to change it to daily and i wanted the gig. sure it's an old story. so i could:
a) mention it & possibly get canned as have only been here 2 wks.
b) wait until i've got it all sussed & then mention it
c) speak to the agent
d) get over it & take long lunches.

wrt laptop - didn't know if most contractors use their own or if is taking the piss.

the other 2 i can get over. i always think i'm going to get sacked, perm or contract & i rarely have a clue what's going on.

[DimPrawn]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on
to be expected to use your own laptop
to do 9 hours a day on a "daily" rate
and to expect to get sacked each evening

?

My current contract meets all those criteria.

[voron]

to not have a ******* clue what's going on

That's a requirement for public sector contracting.

I found out this morning there is a programme I am meant to deliver. Buggers could have warned me, I've been posting crap on this forum for six months

[Bovvered]

then yes this is acceptable

Monkey, is this your first contract? As milan says, yes it is acceptable, but they're not all that bad! You may find you next contract is an easy ride. At least you have variety, unlike a permie!

[xoggoth]

Yes to the first anyhow. I have been here 3 months and I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing or what the company does. They have tried telling me once or twice but I wasn't really interested.