The upside to being an IT contractor
Discussion
jimothy said:
Just been sent an email from my boss. It turns out I get given 2 weeks off over xmas. Unpaid as well. Isn't that nice of him. After all, I like not getting paid for 2 weeks. Nope, there's no need to tell me about this way in advance. It's really generous of you.
Sorry to hear that mate. Goes with the territory doesn't it.
I had a similar thing in my first job. Turned up on the 27th to find the front door locked. After standing around for 30 mins I went home and called my boss (this was before mobile phones) and he said, "We've decided to close between Christmas and New year."
When I tentatively suggested that it might have been helpful if he'd told me, he snapped that I should have 'kept my ear to the ground and then I would have known'.
The days were taken out of my holiday entitlement as well.
When I tentatively suggested that it might have been helpful if he'd told me, he snapped that I should have 'kept my ear to the ground and then I would have known'.
The days were taken out of my holiday entitlement as well.
Sounds par for the course, to be honest, although I agree that it's not much notice.
My current client have closed the site to contractors this Friday from 12pm so that the permies can go to their staff party. We're expected to make up the hours though, although very generously we can do 10 days work in 9 days and take the whole of that Friday off if we wish.
For Christmas the site is closed to contractors from 23rd December to 2nd January (inclusive). However, there are 3 public holidays in there which you'd expect to be non-billable anyway, so that's only 5 enforced non-billable days.
>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 7th December 15:51
My current client have closed the site to contractors this Friday from 12pm so that the permies can go to their staff party. We're expected to make up the hours though, although very generously we can do 10 days work in 9 days and take the whole of that Friday off if we wish.
For Christmas the site is closed to contractors from 23rd December to 2nd January (inclusive). However, there are 3 public holidays in there which you'd expect to be non-billable anyway, so that's only 5 enforced non-billable days.
>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 7th December 15:51
dern said:
Personally I'd jump at it but they should have informed you if it was policy when they wrote out the contract.
I'd rather work and get paid, seeing as I'm saving for a wedding and a 3 week holiday in New Zealand in the new year. I wasn't told anything, and I don't think any mention of it is in my contract...
jimothy said:
Just been sent an email from my boss. It turns out I get given 2 weeks off over xmas. Unpaid as well. Isn't that nice of him. After all, I like not getting paid for 2 weeks. Nope, there's no need to tell me about this way in advance. It's really generous of you.
Ummm....doesn't that come with the territoy. If it's against the contract sue. If it's not then next time get a better contract....
I do appreciate that more warning would be nicer for you, I'd be annoyed and ranting too, nut theres reasons some people dont become IT contractors, and that kind of crap is one of them.
Munter said:As opposed to the total lack of crap that permies get, presumably?
theres reasons some people dont become IT contractors, and that kind of crap is one of them.
TBH, the lack of notice is the only annoying thing really. The rest, as others have said, really does come with the territory I'm afraid.
>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 7th December 15:54
JonRB said:
theres reasons some people dont become IT contractors, and that kind of crap is one of them.
TBH, the lack of notice is the only annoying thing really. The rest, as others have said, really does come with the territory I'm afraid.
It would have been nice to get a bit more notice, such as when they interviewed me a few months ago.
Anyone need a developer for 2 weeks over xmas?
Year before last I was managing a team of Indian developers and they all buggered off for Ramadan, so I had 3 weeks not working, so not paid. Then I took Christmas off so didn't get paid for that week, and then I went skiing for a week so again didn't get paid, and came back to "Can we have a chat before you sit down?" before having the contract cut short. Good job I get paid with binbags full of cash.
Actually it wasn't that bad. They paid me for my holiday time and my contract termination payment, and I had a new contract lined up by the end of the week
Actually it wasn't that bad. They paid me for my holiday time and my contract termination payment, and I had a new contract lined up by the end of the week
bigandclever said:
Actually it wasn't that bad. They paid me for my holiday time and my contract termination payment, and I had a new contract lined up by the end of the week
Whats your point then?
I don't understand why you guys are complaining - seriously, that's the difference between a contractor and a member of staff.
You can't have it all....
axeman30 said:
Anyone need a developer for 2 weeks over xmas?
Why don't you build and launch an e-commerce website? Or are you not a webdev guy?
I'm not a webdev guy, but it can't be that hard can it? All I need is something to sell...
Hmm, anyone got www.wingedhorseofchavtat.co.uk yet?
Carrera2 said:Us guys? Nothing like sweeping generalisations, is there?
I don't understand why you guys are complaining
As far as I can see, jimothy is the only one complaining (and that's about the short notice) and bigandclever was merely relating an anecdote about how it all turned out ok in the end and he made lots of money (the bastard).
jimothy said:
Anyone need a developer for 2 weeks over xmas?
Why don't you build and launch an e-commerce website? Or are you not a webdev guy?
I'm not a webdev guy, but it can't be that hard can it? All I need is something to sell...
Hmm, anyone got www.wingedhorseofchavtat.co.uk yet?
My entrepreneur of a brother was at a loose end the other year so he used an off the shelf e-commerce website, a paypal account all of which cost about £50 to setup an online shop selling sex toys and other such filth.....he never holds the stock his website just takes the orders, processes the payment and then the orders are automatically forwarded to his suppliers.
He doesn't make millions, but coming upto xmas and also valentines day he rakes in a few thousand profit to doing lets face it sod all.
>> Edited by axeman30 on Wednesday 7th December 16:09
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