Reply to: No parking for contractors

[bobspud]

Ahh, it's one of those places where they come up with petty rules for contractors just to keep them in their place. Really irritating but you have to just sit back and think of the money.

No you just have to remind them that they wouldn't treat their legal council that way so why do they expect to do it to you. You will be surprised how easily that technique works...

[eek]

Morrison's I assume. Asda has plenty of parking nearby.

Should point out I've worked at neither. But worked nearby the latter for a while.

[bless 'em all]

WHS

Top of the list of questions is flexibility and parking. I have often caught clientco out with these questions and in the end turned down any subsequent offer.

#4 first, then #2.

Not that I ask #4 as such - more of a case of telling the client at the intial phone stage that I leave early (12) on Friday - If they don't like it then that's the end of the call.

I can park on-site at my current client co as there's 5* more spaces than could possibly be needed by permies.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Morrison's I assume. Asda has plenty of parking nearby.

Yep I have heard about how they treat contractors. Sounds like the last place I would ever want to work.

[eek]

Yep at certain grocer's Head Office in West Yorkshire. Park on the road outside and your windows get smashed by the locals. Lovely place.
Dual pricing in the staff restaurant too.

Morrison's I assume. Asda has plenty of parking nearby.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

WHS

It amazes me how many contractors at interview and before starting never talk about.

1. Time off for holidays
2. Parking arrangements
3. Bringing own equipment
4. Early starts early finishes for travelling
5. Weekend work
6. Dress code

Etc.

WHS

Top of the list of questions is flexibility and parking. I have often caught clientco out with these questions and in the end turned down any subsequent offer.

[TheFaQQer]

Dual pricing in the staff restaurant too.

Good for your IR35 status...

[Sausage Surprise]

Late for my first day as I got to client co and they told me no spaces for contractors. Anyone had this before.?
Had to walk half a mile

Probably don't want us making the permies jealous

Yep at certain grocer's Head Office in West Yorkshire. Park on the road outside and your windows get smashed by the locals. Lovely place.
Dual pricing in the staff restaurant too.

[NotAllThere]

I hire a down at heel permie (there's plenty to choose from) to meet me at the main entrance and park the car for me.

[MarillionFan]

Surely your chauffeur just drops you off at the front door and waits at the service station for you all day before picking you up again???

[darmstadt]

Worked at a bank in Frankfurt and there was no car parking and if you didn't get there before 7 then there was bugger all car parking in any side streets. If I couldn't find anything within a 5 minute walk I used to just go home and back to bed. **** 'em.

[Wanderer]

Late for my first day as I got to client co and they told me no spaces for contractors. Anyone had this before.?
Had to walk half a mile

Ahh, it's one of those places where they come up with petty rules for contractors just to keep them in their place. Really irritating but you have to just sit back and think of the money.

[DimPrawn]

Generally I would have asked that question and set their expectation at the interview stage. I travel quite a way for most contracts and I don't mind that but when it gets to the last mile of 99 and I am left dicking around because some security guard is being a prat that time is their cost.

I normally say something along the lines of "I expect to park onsite, is that acceptable?" If they say no we are constrained for space. Change your rate to cover additional time and costs. Or walk away and make a point of explaining that you are not wasting your time wandering around the streets because of their policies towards contractors. Your day rate is a rate for 7.5 hours and its paid because of your experience. Its not Oh we pay him a fortune so we want him to waste additional hours for free.

To me its a question of courtesy: I am a guest on their site so I expect to be treated as one.

WHS

It amazes me how many contractors at interview and before starting never talk about.

1. Time off for holidays
2. Parking arrangements
3. Bringing own equipment
4. Early starts early finishes for travelling
5. Weekend work
6. Dress code

Etc.

[scooterscot]

Leave the car at home, take a taxi each morning to the front door and invoice the fare.

Did that once for a client in London. Remember you're not the victim here,

[AtW]

Late for my first day as I got to client co and they told me no spaces for contractors. Anyone had this before.?
Had to walk half a mile

Probably don't want us making the permies jealous

It's to keep you out of IR35...