Resigned and left, old boss wants me to contract to help out

[eniacs]

What do I charge? This is for a project that I have worked on and has developed an issue. I can solve it quicker than anyone else since I designed and built and programmed it.

I've said a rate 1.75x my previous rate so far and he is not entirely happy...

I have a new job, which pays more than previous of course, and the contracting would be in my evenings and weekends. I don't really want to do it, hence the price I set. But now I feel like I'm not in the right here. Should I man up, is this normal contracting, or should I say no thanks?

[Funky Squirrel]

If you have moved on and they are needing you more than you need them x1.75 sounds fair. How much work will it be, a few hours here and there is different from cramming in hours.

[mikebradford]

You set the value of your time not them.
If he agrees or not is a seperate matter.

Don't feel pressured into doing the work. If they had valued you more highly in the first place you might still gave been there.

[ATG]

Do what feels right. If they need help, then help them. Charge them what seems fair to you and reasonable in terms of current market rates. Do as you'd hope to be done by, etc.

And also check your current employment contract doesn't prohibit you from undertaking work for a 3rd party and run it past your employer if you need an exemption.

[CAPP0]

Depends what the skillset you're taking to him is.

A decent contract PM will easily get £600+ per day and it's not unknown to get £1000. I know of a good few contract PMs who have been on £750 on long contracts (12months+).

I employed a contractor five years ago with extremely specific and proven skills in a certain area of IT, for a very detailed assignment with our then-biggest customer, and he cost us £1150 a day.

But if it's just that he can't remember which folder some key documents were stored in, then a bit less!

1.75x previous day rate sound extremely reasonable. I'm assuming it will only be a short assignment anyway?

[bristolbaron]

Remember, he’s not your boss.

He’s a potential customer/client and if you don’t want a customer/client it’s thanks but no thanks. If you can do the work twice as quick as someone on your previous rate he’s saving money. If he’s not jumping at the chance he’s a fool and may play up when it comes to invoicing. Walk away...

[bobbysmithy]

eniacs said:

What do I charge? This is for a project that I have worked on and has developed an issue. I can solve it quicker than anyone else since I designed and built and programmed it.

I've said a rate 1.75x my previous rate so far and he is not entirely happy...

I have a new job, which pays more than previous of course, and the contracting would be in my evenings and weekends. I don't really want to do it, hence the price I set. But now I feel like I'm not in the right here. Should I man up, is this normal contracting, or should I say no thanks?

By the sounds of it he’s already showing his colours by ‘not being happy’ I’d worry if you would receive payment from him...so I’d walk depending on how much work was needed or if he could pay some up front for fixed rate

[Ilovejapcrap]

Tell him to FO

[anonymous-user]

About £87.50 per hour (£700 per day) is pretty much standard in M&E / IT design as a contract rate, ex VAT. Some more, some a bit less, but that is where most contractors are in my experience (UK/ APAC / ME).

[67Dino]

This doesn’t sound like a good idea.

Best case you do a good job and have set a precedent making it hard to refuse future demands. Worst case, he doesn’t pay, and your new employer finds out, isn’t pleased, and it turns out to be against your contract.

Make a nice clean break and move on.

[MitchT]

eniacs said:

I don't really want to do it, hence the price I set.

You've answered your own question. How much would they have to pay for you to want the work? That's your rate. If they don't like it, tough tit.

[Vocht]

A rate of 1.75x is more than reasonable imo. Many companies pay regular overtime at 1.5x for evening or weekend work, so asking an old employee to come back, at their inconvenience, is perfectly acceptable to ask 1.75x.

If you 1.5x your new rate it’s likely closer to your old 1.75x rate anyway.

It’s never good to burn bridges so I say fulfil the work but don’t forget, you’re the one doing him a favour, he should compensate you accordingly.

[Jasandjules]

Do also make sure that your new contract of employment does not preclude any such work in the first instance....

[PorkInsider]

A variation on Stockholm Syndrome?

You (presumably) recently left the company and at the moment still feel some attachment to it?

Think about 12 months down the line when the old place is out of your head.

Would you do the work for him then? How much would you want, if so?

[NDA]

bobbysmithy said:

By the sounds of it he’s already showing his colours by ‘not being happy’ I’d worry if you would receive payment from him...so I’d walk depending on how much work was needed or if he could pay some up front for fixed rate

My thinking too.

He should have rather grateful that you would even consider his request.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, good luck with sorting the problem" would be my response.

[croissant]

bobbysmithy said:

By the sounds of it he’s already showing his colours by ‘not being happy’ I’d worry if you would receive payment from him...so I’d walk depending on how much work was needed or if he could pay some up front for fixed rate

I totally agree with this.

[Countdown]

eniacs said:

What do I charge? This is for a project that I have worked on and has developed an issue. I can solve it quicker than anyone else since I designed and built and programmed it.

I've said a rate 1.75x my previous rate so far and he is not entirely happy...

I have a new job, which pays more than previous of course, and the contracting would be in my evenings and weekends. I don't really want to do it, hence the price I set. But now I feel like I'm not in the right here. Should I man up, is this normal contracting, or should I say no thanks?

You're absolutely in the right - stick to your guns.

However if you don't want to do it, don't do it, regardless of the hourly rate.

[Muzzer79]

eniacs said:

What do I charge? This is for a project that I have worked on and has developed an issue. I can solve it quicker than anyone else since I designed and built and programmed it.

I've said a rate 1.75x my previous rate so far and he is not entirely happy...

I have a new job, which pays more than previous of course, and the contracting would be in my evenings and weekends. I don't really want to do it, hence the price I set. But now I feel like I'm not in the right here. Should I man up, is this normal contracting, or should I say no thanks?

First, make sure you don't have a 'moonlighting' clause with your new job.

Second, payment - you need something to ensure you'll get paid, that being a formal contract of some sort.

Third - you set the rate to what you see fit. You can quote £10,000 an hour if you want to. If your old boss isn't entirely happy, he is more than welcome to find someone else who is cheaper - especially if you don't really want to do it.

[CAPP0]

Muzzer79 said:

Third - you set the rate to what you see fit. You can quote £10,000 an hour if you want to.

This reminds me of when I used to carry out electrical contracting work as a sideline, about 30 years ago. There had been a fire in the kitchen of an "architect-designed" property in SE London, one of a set of 8 properties, all finished identically and which had all manner of covenants on what you could and couldn't do, and how the repair work had to be done to reinstate various things. I was asked to quote to rewire the kitchen area (only!) and didn't want to do it, as it involved conduit, pyro, all sorts of shenanigans. Anyway, on that basis I put in a price of £2500 (bear in mind, 30 years ago, one room only!) and the response was "great, when can you start?".

So, OP, there's your other alternative, throw a ridiculous price at him and if he pays it, happy days!

[itlab]

I think 1.75 is a very generous offer (I’d have said 2x)

Your doing this as a contract so

Unsociable hours
No holiday pay/pension contributions/other staff benefits etc
Any additional faff for you (ie self assessment tax forms etc vs paye)