Contractor can't get tow work due to car trouble.

[CRB14]

You should tell her to splash some of that hard earnt cash on something within warranty and access to courtesy cars.

[Rude-boy]

Just thinking about this and as an aside - If she were a contractor then surely a hire car would be a legitimate business expense to travel to the place of work, and therefore deductible, and therefore WHAT'S THE BLOODY EXCUSE!!!! One day to sort allowable maximum!

[prand]

CRB14 said:

You should tell her to splash some of that hard earnt cash on something within warranty and access to courtesy cars.

Which was what I was hinting at when I spoke to her. Apparently her gararge is still waiting for a replacement ECU over a week later after she took the car in, which obviously is not my problem!

[Vaud]

prand said:

Which was what I was hinting at when I spoke to her. Apparently her gararge is still waiting for a replacement ECU over a week later after she took the car in, which obviously is not my problem!

If it's a French car then I would believe it. French August shutdown, lots of stuff on backorder...

[Wilmslowboy]

nyt said:

Is there an agency involved?

I'm sure that they can motivate the contractor.

This

Tell them you won't be signing the time sheet for the days off site (going forward)
I am sure if you made this clear - she would hire a car, get taxi etc

Nothing wrong with working from home (when agreed in advance and not detrimental to the client)

[prand]

Vaud said:

If it's a French car then I would believe it. French August shutdown, lots of stuff on backorder...

Nope, it's a C Class Mercedes.

[Vaud]

prand said:

Nope, it's a C Class Mercedes.

Germany also shutdown.

[CRB14]

prand said:

Nope, it's a C Class Mercedes.

Must be old as the hills and not at an approved garage.

[prand]

CRB14 said:

Must be old as the hills and not at an approved garage.

Yes yes yes, all of that. I don't really care though as long as the thing gets fixed, or she gets a new car and this doesn't happen again, and she knows its not ok to stay working from home for an undefined period due to her inability to get to work.

[Simon_m]

Absolutely no excuse for not getting to work due to transport issues. As a contractor I work all over the UK, my vehicle is maintained and serviced regularly, I have full breakdown cover that includes a replacement vehicle should mine be unrepairable at the side of the road. For me no vehicle = no work.

[ali_kat]

Simon_m said:

Absolutely no excuse for not getting to work due to transport issues. As a contractor I work all over the UK, my vehicle is maintained and serviced regularly, I have full breakdown cover that includes a replacement vehicle should mine be unrepairable at the side of the road. For me no vehicle = no work.

Ditto, but even if I didn't have that, I'd be hiring a car, getting a taxi, or using the train & claiming the costs back out of my company.

We are able to WFH within reason, but 2 days max is all I'd have taken in the circumstances, day 1 = when it happened & day 2 in the hope it's was resolved that day. By the end of day 2 alternative arrangements would have been made.

Knowing that someone was relying on me being in the office would have meant I'd have been there, even if I'd have had to walk!

[Dog Star]

As an ex contractor (and I suspect going back to it soon) of 20+ years my view is that this woman is being rather unprofessional and taking the piss.

Client says jump - you say "how high". I'd have rented a car or whatever.

[SilverSixer]

I used to contract in Tonbridge, living in Reading. When my car was out of action (Alfa 33 - guess how often that was) I'd get the train to Redhill, change and on to Tonbridge. There might have been a further change somewhere, can't remember. Anyway, it is a REALLY slow service, hours on both directions, but I did it. Get up early, get home late. My problem entirely and my employer didn't even know my car was a bleeding Alfa.

[dtmpower]

prand said:

She doesn't necessarily need to be in the office to do her job, but we are all largely office based, people can WFH but tend only for a day or so a week, and this was nearly a week ago. Plus, this week, one of the team from the US has come over and these two were supposed to meet up.

All largely office based but can work from home ?

Seems a bit wishy washy to me.

[bigandclever]

Well, at least she knows what her IR35 status is likely to be deemed as :Laugh:

[SimNugget]

prand said:

Oh yes - no further problem (unfortunately doesn't make an interesting thread!), she's been in the rest of this week by catching the train.

Wow, she's really putting herself out. How many other people may consider this wild means of commuting!

I would be scheduling some 8am meetings with her....

[conanius]

Glad its sorted, but what a total waster.

As a permanent member of staff I do whatever it takes to get to work. I ensure where I live has several alternative options. When I worked back in London I could Cycle/Drive/Bus/Train/Tube if I had to... I'd walk. When we had a load of snow, I walked from Bromley to Lewisham as I could get on a train there.

You aren't doing someone a favour by turning up to work, its part of your role as an employee.

[Liokault]

As a contractor who's car broke down last bank holiday weekend, meaning I had to drive from oxford to hear throw twice (booked the car on the phone and they said as a previous customer I didn't need photo I d only to decline my 25 year old photo less license in the office) I think she was taking the pee, but you did really imply that working from home was ok,

[MagicalTrevor]

As said above, as a contractor that drives to work I've previously used the train to get to work (plus taxi or walk at the other end). If that wasn't possible then I'd get a taxi for the 45 miles to work if I needed to or I'd even get my Wife to take a day off work and drive me to work!

I'm astonished at her behaviour!