HardAss client manager - and IR unfriendly too

[FatLazyContractor]

Are you psychocandy?

Is there some reason you can't deal with your business relationships without telling the world?

You are aware that google reveals threads and people have been uncovered due to the information they provide?

I guess people on CUK should invoice him/her for their services.

OP - Understand IR35 here.

[RoastedSlopes]

True enough about WFH.
But I bet a lot of you think I'll give it three months and then see if I can do Fri from home? Am I wrong? :-)

No Im not psychocandy whoever he/she/it is.

And Monday and Wednesday's Lovely Jubbley

[AnthonyQuinn]

i.e. You're in the office when we say you are and we're getting our moneys worth.

So no WFH at all. Sometimes the permies get away with it but not a chance in hell for contractors it seems.

Obviously, not great from an IR35 perspective either.

IR35 thing does worry me though if I stayed her too long. This manager is the sort who doesnt care about that.

Anyone got experience of similar?

whats wrong with you. When i was hiring manager I wouldnt let the contractor WFH either. I dont think WFH is 'work' and when I am the client you effing do as I say or find another client. And why on earth should he care about your IR35? Do you care about his tax compliance for example?? dont like the contract?? find another.

[Ticktock]

whats wrong with you. When i was hiring manager I wouldnt let the contractor WFH either. I dont think WFH is 'work' and when I am the client you effing do as I say or find another client. And why on earth should he care about your IR35? Do you care about his tax compliance for example?? dont like the contract?? find another.

Actually, the contract I have specifically states to the client "You shall not attempt to exert control... etc... over the worker", so no, if you are the client I don't do as you effing say.

Why are you paying the high rate for a skilled resource when you obviously appear to want a sweatshop worker to grind out what you want. It sounds more like you're looking for someone on an FTC, or more likely a temp.

[jamesbrown]

Are you psychocandy?

Get out of my head.

[jmo21]

Actually, the contract I have specifically states to the client "You shall not attempt to exert control... etc... over the worker", so no, if you are the client I don't do as you effing say.

Why are you paying the high rate for a skilled resource when you obviously appear to want a sweatshop worker to grind out what you want. It sounds more like you're looking for someone on an FTC, or more likely a temp.

A lot of places are exactly like that though. The contractor for them IS just another "bod" for them to boss around just like the permies.

It is up to us to manage it, but quite rightly, they aren't interested in our IR35 status.

And if it's really bad, you have a decision to make.

[jamesbrown]

whats wrong with you. When i was hiring manager I wouldnt let the contractor WFH either. I dont think WFH is 'work' and when I am the client you effing do as I say or find another client. And why on earth should he care about your IR35? Do you care about his tax compliance for example?? dont like the contract?? find another.

That attitude might work with low level n00bs, but any in-demand contractor is going to call your bluff with that childish attitude; I dare say you specialised in n00bs or didn't last long as a hiring manager

[SussexSeagull]

From what I am seeing WFH is becoming less and less fashionable so that is something we may all have to get used to. That said if you are being paid several hundreds of pounds a day it really isn't that much of a hardship (unless they are backtracking having agreed to it before you started).

Would have thought it fairly sensible to be there when everyone else is unless it involves someone having a go at you for arriving at 0902. In terms of extra hours this has been done to death but basically manage the situation on a client by client basis.

[original PM]

whats wrong with you. When i was hiring manager I wouldnt let the contractor WFH either. I dont think WFH is 'work' and when I am the client you effing do as I say or find another client. And why on earth should he care about your IR35? Do you care about his tax compliance for example?? dont like the contract?? find another.

You normally take on a contractor to achieve a series of set tasks/goals.

Not to come in every day to 'work'.

As long as they hit the milestones and deliverables it really does not matter how, where and when they do it.

And in fact when you say you do not think WFH is 'work' actually just highlights you as the sort of person who cannot manage their own time and motivate themselves.

[Willapp]

You normally take on a contractor to achieve a series of set tasks/goals.

Not to come in every day to 'work'.

As long as they hit the milestones and deliverables it really does not matter how, where and when they do it.

And in fact when you say you do not think WFH is 'work' actually just highlights you as the sort of person who cannot manage their own time and motivate themselves.

I think the problem, certainly in the software development field, is that in larger teams and working in an "agile" environment it can be just as easy to contribute very little while looking "busy" as it is to achieve a lot and appear to have time on your hands. Too often those in charge of resource work to the lowest common denominator which is basically time spent visibly sat at the computer. Let people WFH and you can no longer "see" their effort and ergo they must be sat in front of the TV all day.

It's an attitude that bothers me greatly, but I suspect that for every true contractor who sees WFH as the valuable "benefit" that it is - and consequently focuses on delivery of their objectives - there will be 2 or 3 bob contractors who would achieve little whether in the office or not, but at least can "appear" busy sitting at their desk and keeping people happy by doing the coffee round five times a day.

I am lucky that my current client is fairly reasonable when it comes to WFH for contractors and permies, and some permies even have "5 days in 4" deals. What's frustrating is that many of them are in the latter category above and deliver very little whether they're sat in the office or not!