Day Rate + Work hour expectations

[monkeypaw]

Hi, I've been talking with a old colleague, and I was given the impression contractors are treated a bit like slavers, i.e. working falls well outside the contracting weekly hours.

I get that in some situations, but it was made to sound like it was more likely than not very often.

As I'm gearing up for my first contract role, any opinions / experience with this?

[heyya99]

Hi, I've been talking with a old colleague, and I was given the impression contractors are treated a bit like slavers, i.e. working falls well outside the contracting weekly hours.

I get that in some situations, but it was made to sound like it was more likely than not very often.

As I'm gearing up for my first contract role, any opinions / experience with this?

Not once in 4 years.

[LondonManc]

Hi, I've been talking with a old colleague, and I was given the impression contractors are treated a bit like slavers, i.e. working falls well outside the contracting weekly hours.

I get that in some situations, but it was made to sound like it was more likely than not very often.

As I'm gearing up for my first contract role, any opinions / experience with this?

Very much a personal thing. You're there to deliver a professional day. If that takes 8 hours, great. If it takes longer, so be it. Most of the time, the standard 8 hours works fine; occasionally you'll need to put more in. Keep it occasional though or it becomes expected/the norm.

[MrMarkyMark]

Hi, I've been talking with a old colleague, and I was given the impression contractors are treated a bit like slavers, i.e. working falls well outside the contracting weekly hours.

I get that in some situations, but it was made to sound like it was more likely than not very often.

As I'm gearing up for my first contract role, any opinions / experience with this?

Can be that way. Depends if it is a fire fighting role, and / or there is pressure for the delivery.

Can think of one extreme situation, in my case, that led on to over 3 years continual profitable engagement.
Not only that, but it allowed me to bring some of my network in, so has proved good for everyone.

Sometimes you get what you put in.

[WTFH]

Very much a personal thing. You're there to deliver a professional day. If that takes 8 hours, great. If it takes longer, so be it. Most of the time, the standard 8 hours works fine; occasionally you'll need to put more in. Keep it occasional though or it becomes expected/the norm.

I take the attitude of "I'm paid to deliver". Most of the time I can deliver based on an 8-9 hour day. Sometimes that goes over 10 hours at times of higher pressure. If it hits 12 hours then I'll make sure the client/agent is aware and we sort out a deal on it. If I'm staying in a hotel and have nothing better to do, then I don't mind as much.
Most clients are flexible on that one. e.g. "you worked 10 hour days Tues-Thurs, so go home at lunch on Friday and bill us for a full day."

[LondonManc]

I take the attitude of "I'm paid to deliver". Most of the time I can deliver based on an 8-9 hour day. Sometimes that goes over 10 hours at times of higher pressure. If it hits 12 hours then I'll make sure the client/agent is aware and we sort out a deal on it. If I'm staying in a hotel and have nothing better to do, then I don't mind as much.
Most clients are flexible on that one. e.g. "you worked 10 hour days Tues-Thurs, so go home at lunch on Friday and bill us for a full day."

Yes, I've had that arrangement a couple of times when working in London. Finishing at 1 on a Friday I can be sat at home in Manchester before 5.

[FatLazyContractor]

Depends on the mentality of the contractor.

Someone who is COTBAC will act like a business.

[northernladuk]

I take the attitude of "I'm paid to deliver". Most of the time I can deliver based on an 8-9 hour day. Sometimes that goes over 10 hours at times of higher pressure. If it hits 12 hours then I'll make sure the client/agent is aware and we sort out a deal on it. If I'm staying in a hotel and have nothing better to do, then I don't mind as much.
Most clients are flexible on that one. e.g. "you worked 10 hour days Tues-Thurs, so go home at lunch on Friday and bill us for a full day."

Absolutely this. IMO you should be better than the permies. Doesn't have to be by much but still better. You are paid to deliver specialist skills in a client supplier relationship.
That doesn't mean you bend over and take it which some clients will try though. If it's going that way you've got some tough negotiation to do and it won't always go your way so you've got to make a decision to stay or go.
There is always the odd gig where you are brought in to be a scapegoat and will get blamed for everything. Not pleasant gigs but a great test of your mettle.
Some clients will be flexible, some won't. Dont expect anything more than what's on the contract and you won't be disappointed. Every client is different. That's the fun of contracting.

[sal]

I take the attitude of "I'm paid to deliver". Most of the time I can deliver based on an 8-9 hour day. Sometimes that goes over 10 hours at times of higher pressure. If it hits 12 hours then I'll make sure the client/agent is aware and we sort out a deal on it. If I'm staying in a hotel and have nothing better to do, then I don't mind as much.
Most clients are flexible on that one. e.g. "you worked 10 hour days Tues-Thurs, so go home at lunch on Friday and bill us for a full day."

This is my experience more or less. Usually I aim to have some sort of a definition of "professional work day" like 8h or so and base my daily rate on that. If someone expects me to work 10h/day on a regular basis i have no problem with that as long as the daily rate is right, I'm not a charity after all.

[ChimpMaster]

Most “employers” will treat you as an “employee” but might try to get that little bit more out of you because their misconception is that you are being “paid” 50% more than they are. Over the years and being a niche specialist, I have managed to hone relationships to the point that I can actually get a day’s work done in a far less than 8 hours, even within a couple of hours sometimes. There is the rare occasion that I’ll get a call in the evening or on the weekend, and in the past year I have worked 3 or 4 weekends (all paid) to contribute on projects, but generally as an experienced contractor you should be able to determine your own working arrangements.