Question

[try-one]

Hello,
I have been reading the different guides to contracting and I think I got the basic messages right.... I used to run my own company from 1995-2005 (went broke) and I have been a permy for the last year and a half.
Now I'm thinking about moving to contracting, I have a few questions for the forum:
- I have seen daily rates, is it common for customers to ask for overtime and pay for it? (I work 60 hours a week now....would it be similar but with additional pay?)
- My current permanent contract has a 3 months notice.....should I resign now and apply for contracts in two months? Is it common to have agreements with employers to reduce the notice?


thanks
Try-one

[Cyber Controller]

1. Only permies get paid "overtime". A daily rate does what it says on the tin. You work a day, you get paid for a day, whether that day consists of 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours or whatever.

2. Unless you have a God-like set of skills, it is virtually inconceivable a client looking for a contractor would be prepared to wait three months for you. As to whether you could negotiate your notice period away with your employer, well, only you can answer that question. Anything is possible and the only thing you can say with certainty in this world is that if you don't aks you definitely don't get.

[try-one]

Hi,
Why is the emphasis on the "time sheets"; is that only to record how many days have been worked?
Also, we all know projects tend to be longer than planned, so if I sign a 4 month contract and I realize that it needed 8 six months, is then when I need to start working 14 hours or have you frequently had to change scope/duration of the contracts?
thanks for the input.

[Fleetwood]

Hi,
Why is the emphasis on the "time sheets"; is that only to record how many days have been worked?

Some advice : stay permie.

[Flubster]

I had a 3 months notice at my last permie job that I left in March. Rang round the agents with a month to go. Had a couple of interviews the week before I left. Got an offer to start something the Monday after I finished work on the Friday.

It was a bit of a nailbiter towards the end, especially when you've got the trouble and strife harking on in your ear hole about maing sure you'll get the money to pay for her shoe allowance next week, but it was worth the risk.

So long as you're skills match demand, you should have no problem, especially now that the summer is over...

As for the timesheets...I refuse to sign any of the client's forms. I give them something to sign weekly that confirms how many days I will be charging for...no mention of actual times.

[Fleetwood]

So long as you're skills match demand, you should have no problem, especially now that the summer is over...

your

[Lucifer Box]

Hi,
Why is the emphasis on the "time sheets"; is that only to record how many days have been worked?
Also, we all know projects tend to be longer than planned, so if I sign a 4 month contract and I realize that it needed 8 six months, is then when I need to start working 14 hours or have you frequently had to change scope/duration of the contracts?
thanks for the input.

Consider what you would do if you hired a guy to fit you a new bathroom and he quoted you four months to do the job and all of a sudden he said, "well, these things always overrun so it's going to take me eight months really".

[oraclesmith]

1. Only permies get paid "overtime". A daily rate does what it says on the tin. You work a day, you get paid for a day, whether that day consists of 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours or whatever.

I disagree. If you are astute, you will ensure your service contract has a limit to the number of hours per day being contracted for, with any additional hours of service being paid for on a per hour basis. If you don't do this you risk working yourself to death or getting sued for breach of contract.

[malvolio]

I disagree you back, since I'm not paid to deliver "things", I'm paid to deliver objectives. How I do it and how many hours a day I take is immaterial, as long as it is delivered on time (or preferably a bit early). Hence I charge a Professional Working Day and won't be having anything to do with hours spent or overtime - if I need overtime, I'm doing it wrong and it's my problem...

[Lucifer Box]

I agree with Malvolio.