Contractor can't get tow work due to car trouble.
Discussion
So, a contractor in my team lives c30 miles from the office. Her car has had to go into the garage to get a replacement ECU on her car as it keeps cuttting out randomly so can't be driven.
Her garage now can't name a day when the new part will be delivered and car fixed, and it can't be driven as it could cut out at any time.
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.
I'm getting a little peeved. Short term, none of the above would be a major issue, but this is dragging on more than I find acceptable without a fix being in sight. Plus, someone has come to meet her from 5000 miles away and I feel it looks pretty unprofessional that she can't manage to make the 30 miles from home.
I've spoken to this contractor telling her what I want (basically to get to the office for the rest of this week, I don't care how), just wondering what others may do in this situation as I think I may be being a bit harsh...
Her garage now can't name a day when the new part will be delivered and car fixed, and it can't be driven as it could cut out at any time.
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.
I'm getting a little peeved. Short term, none of the above would be a major issue, but this is dragging on more than I find acceptable without a fix being in sight. Plus, someone has come to meet her from 5000 miles away and I feel it looks pretty unprofessional that she can't manage to make the 30 miles from home.
I've spoken to this contractor telling her what I want (basically to get to the office for the rest of this week, I don't care how), just wondering what others may do in this situation as I think I may be being a bit harsh...
^ above, or get the train/bus/taxi.
I don't think you are being unreasonable, OP.
Is this contractor self-employed?
I can't drive at the moment and the train takes 1.5hrs similar distance...If necessary (i.e. dentist this morning at 9am) I'll get a £40 taxi to avoid having to book half a day.
I don't think you are being unreasonable, OP.
Is this contractor self-employed?
I can't drive at the moment and the train takes 1.5hrs similar distance...If necessary (i.e. dentist this morning at 9am) I'll get a £40 taxi to avoid having to book half a day.
theboss said:
I don't think you're being harsh OP - FFS - tell her that her services aren't required until she can get onsite, perhaps? She's only quibbling about the cost of taxis / hire cars because she thinks you'll just carry on paying her if she sits at home.
This whole contractor thing wasn't something I was familiar with until I joined PH.But from reading on here - I got the impression that they are on day rates - and that youd only bill for what you ACTUALLY worked.
So not doing any work = no pay????.
I understood the whole "contractor" thing - was that you were self employed - with the companies own staff being "permies" (permanent staff).
Sir Fergie said:
This whole contractor thing wasn't something I was familiar with until I joined PH.
But from reading on here - I got the impression that they are on day rates - and that youd only bill for what you ACTUALLY worked.
So not doing any work = no pay????.
I understood the whole "contractor" thing - was that you were self employed - with the companies own staff being "permies" (permanent staff).
Semantics, really...this could be the case but not always (hence I asked if she was self employed, above).But from reading on here - I got the impression that they are on day rates - and that youd only bill for what you ACTUALLY worked.
So not doing any work = no pay????.
I understood the whole "contractor" thing - was that you were self employed - with the companies own staff being "permies" (permanent staff).
A client might refer to employees of a contracting or consultancy organisation as 'contractors', using the term collectively, as they are not employees of his own organisation.
Personally, when I hear the word 'contractor' I assume a freelancer/self-employed individual.
Edited by texasjohn on Wednesday 3rd September 22:09
She's being flaky. There are many ways to get to work!
Back when I had managed to get myself right up to a decent, board-level management position, it was a fairly well-accepted, but unspoken rule, that non-attendance would not be tolerated from any of the senior management, unless we were close to death from illness or injury (and even then, we were expected to work from a laptop from our death-beds )
So because I was trusted with such a position, with a salary that related to that, I always ensured that I had an alternative method of transport available. For a while, it was a 100cc moped / bike that I had in the garage, always ready to go as a last resort, should the car fail me.
Then after that, it was having two cars at my disposal. Public transport was a final fall-back, although with some of the hours I had to work, this might have been a bit tricky...
If my job was stacking shelves at Tesco, I wouldn't be too bothered. However, in a responsible position, then I would expect a responsible adult to have at least one back-up plan. The kind of flakiness you describe is the behaviour of an amateur, or a child.
Back when I had managed to get myself right up to a decent, board-level management position, it was a fairly well-accepted, but unspoken rule, that non-attendance would not be tolerated from any of the senior management, unless we were close to death from illness or injury (and even then, we were expected to work from a laptop from our death-beds )
So because I was trusted with such a position, with a salary that related to that, I always ensured that I had an alternative method of transport available. For a while, it was a 100cc moped / bike that I had in the garage, always ready to go as a last resort, should the car fail me.
Then after that, it was having two cars at my disposal. Public transport was a final fall-back, although with some of the hours I had to work, this might have been a bit tricky...
If my job was stacking shelves at Tesco, I wouldn't be too bothered. However, in a responsible position, then I would expect a responsible adult to have at least one back-up plan. The kind of flakiness you describe is the behaviour of an amateur, or a child.
Quite. It's not as if she's in a space/time bubble, and if she's contracting I assume that spending her money on a taxi would still make it worth her while to come into the office?
I work about 20 miles from my house. When my car is in the garage I get up half an hour earlier and take public transport. It's not bloody rocket science.
I work about 20 miles from my house. When my car is in the garage I get up half an hour earlier and take public transport. It's not bloody rocket science.
Thats out of order, I realise its a pain not knowing when she will get the car back but that is not the OPs responsibility, perhaps a day or two W@H but then she should have made alternative arrangements to get into the office.
I would expect to have my contract terminated if I missed a client meeting in such a manner. I managed to get to Munich during the volcano ash thing a few years back, It quickly became clear that I wasn't flying there so drove there as did all the other stakeholders from all over europe, I did the presentation landed the contract and drove home.
I didn't expect a pat on the back it was my duty to be there.40p a mile was nice though.
I would expect to have my contract terminated if I missed a client meeting in such a manner. I managed to get to Munich during the volcano ash thing a few years back, It quickly became clear that I wasn't flying there so drove there as did all the other stakeholders from all over europe, I did the presentation landed the contract and drove home.
I didn't expect a pat on the back it was my duty to be there.40p a mile was nice though.
As a contractor one thing I know is that, holidays aside, you get yourself into work come rain or shine, car or no car. A lack of transport is a poor excuse really. A breakdown is slightly different if its unexpected but I know my clients would not accept frequent absence. I'd be having a word along the lines of 'we expect you to be in'.
Vaud said:
Contractor - their risk entirely.
Upside: higher pay. Downside: smaller safety net.
Suggest she finds ways and means to be in the office, including hire cars, etc as she is needed in person.
Then have serious word. I suspect you are being too nice.
Riot Act.Upside: higher pay. Downside: smaller safety net.
Suggest she finds ways and means to be in the office, including hire cars, etc as she is needed in person.
Then have serious word. I suspect you are being too nice.
Silly cow needs to hire a car at her cost. What a liberty.
Soov535 said:
Vaud said:
Contractor - their risk entirely.
Upside: higher pay. Downside: smaller safety net.
Suggest she finds ways and means to be in the office, including hire cars, etc as she is needed in person.
Then have serious word. I suspect you are being too nice.
Riot Act.Upside: higher pay. Downside: smaller safety net.
Suggest she finds ways and means to be in the office, including hire cars, etc as she is needed in person.
Then have serious word. I suspect you are being too nice.
Silly cow needs to hire a car at her cost. What a liberty.
An employee should perhaps be given a day or two grace to sort their life out but that's about it. Hell if they weren't doing it I would be working out who lives nearby and might be able to give her a lift for them!
If they were a proper, paid by the day, contractor it would be a very simple - "You're not getting paid unless you are on site . I'll wear one working from home day, may be two but you are now taking the mickey out of me."
As said there is a difference between permie and contract so that would colour my view, a proper contractor should be like a proper professional - it does not matter how you do it (so long as legal) but you get the job done - that is why you get the bigger pay packet than the 9-5er.
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. I've told her I was not happy with the car excuse and reminded her I would expect her to be in the office most days.
Case closed really, but thanks for those who did reinforce my thoughts. I feel if commuting to work, a car is a tool for work, that a contractor above anyone (as they are paid hansomely at my place) should have all these maintaned and working without issue, with backup, and perhaps more to make sure they are never left stuck at home.
Case closed really, but thanks for those who did reinforce my thoughts. I feel if commuting to work, a car is a tool for work, that a contractor above anyone (as they are paid hansomely at my place) should have all these maintaned and working without issue, with backup, and perhaps more to make sure they are never left stuck at home.
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