Contractor newbie question - uplift for weekend work?

[clived]

Moving to an (IT project management) contract role for the first time. Is there a normal expectation around a rate uplift for work that needs (as defined by the employing organisation) to be carried out either out of hours during the week or on Saturday / Sunday? I'm sure the first answer will be "what does your contract say", but as it doesn't say anything about this, I want to know what the industry norm is.

Cheers!

[jammy_basturd]

If I was asked to work out of hours, either in the evening or weekend, I'd certainly specify a higher hourly rate!

[98elise]

It really does depend on your contract.

My last one had loads of out of hours and weekend work. I was paid for a "professional day", so single day rate regardless of the day, number of hours, and what time it was

[worsy]

No extra for me.

[hornetrider]

In my experience some do, some don't. Depends how tight the money is

[ehasler]

Depends what your contract says really, and whether you're on an hourly or daily rate. I've had to do a lot of weekend work over the last year, and the norm from my experience is that you just get paid for a normal day whether you work 2 hours or 22. Some you win, some you lose but it tends to even out in the end I find.

[deckster]

If it's a regular thing then get something that's acceptable to both parties in writing in your contract.

If it's just the odd few hours here and there then I've found an informal - but documented - agreement with whoever approves your timesheets works well ("I'll work four hours and bill for six" kind of thing)

[singlecoil]

Concern about hours of work etc sounds more like employment than contracting to me.

[jammy_basturd]

Just to come back to this, I guess I had more of a freelancer hat on, rather than contractor.

The difference to me is that you employ a freelancer to do a specific task or project and it is up to them how they complete that work. If there are then stipulatations that the work needs to be done in the evenings/weekends then I for one would be requesting a higher rate for work done at those times.

Where as with a contractor I would firstly find out what other employees get. If other employees get time and a half, etc, then I'd certainly be asking for a higher rate. However if you start getting the same benefits as employees then that's one more step towards the IR35 trap!

To be honest I'd probably ask for a higher rate regardless - if you don't ask you don't get and my spare time is precious to me!

[singlecoil]

What's the difference between a contractor and a freelancer then?

[jammy_basturd]

To me a contractor a is similar to a temporary member of staff. Hired and fired at a moments notice, they usually work on-site and do the same jobs other employees do. I'd say a contractor is usually used to meet a temporary resource shortfall.

A freelancer however is someone who could be working from a beach hut in Thailand. Particular skills are needed for a particular project and they are usually tasked with completing certain requirements in return for a set amount of money.

Of course I'm sure everyone's definitions differ, but that's how I see the difference.

[Shaoxter]

Nope, but in my experience you get a full day's pay for less than a normal day's hours. But it depends on your role really.

[ewenm]

It should be a negotiation between the client company and your company hoping to provide the services. They've made an offer to your company for it's services. Your company can go back with a response detailing rates for normal hours and exceptional hours and see what response you get. Based on that your company can decide if the contract is worth agreeing.

How much your company pays you feeds into the decision but is not directly relevant to the negotiation.