Working as a Contractor
Some important things you should keep in mind
Working as a contractor puts you in a privileged position. You
will be earning a lot more money than most of your permanent
colleagues, and you should be able to steer clear of office
politics. However it's important that you stay on good terms with
your co-workers and bosses, both in order to get the job done and to
secure the positive references that will help to get you your next
contract. Following this simple code of conduct should help:
The Philosophy of 'Value Added Service'
Infopeople are constantly striving to improve the quality of
service provided to both clients and contractors. It is our firm
belief that by providing only the most professional and motivated
contractors to our clients, we will continue to expand. Part and
parcel of this belief is the need for us to retain our quality
contractors, and to put enormous effort into ensuring that those
currently on assignment have continuous work.
Many of the creative ideas for providing "value-added
service" to both clients and contractors have, in fact come
from our consultants and we are keen to learn of ideas which they
believe will add value to the services provided.
Attendance
The client will expect you to observe the normal working hours
appropriate to your location or project. Failure to do so is one
of the most common causes of non-acceptance by (and difficulty
with) permanent staff. Be punctual, even if others around you are
not.
Ensure that you work the full week's working hours every week.
If the client agrees that you have a good and justifiable reason
to take time off work, then you should offer (and be prepared) to
make it up on other days.
Overtime
If the project requires you to work longer than normal hours,
you must ensure that the client pre-approves such work.
If you feel the client is making unreasonable requests on your
time, you should discuss this immediately with your account
manager at Infopeople.
Absence - Planned
If there are good reasons for taking time off, be sure the
client is aware and can release you.
If you plan a holiday this must be cleared both with
Infopeople and the client. A corresponding extension to the Agreement
Period, or a period of extended hours working may be required of
you, to provide the client with the quantity of time for which he
has been contracted.
Absence - Unplanned
If you are going to be late or are unable to attend at all,
telephone the client at the earliest opportunity to explain.
Keep us informed at Infopeople if you have to take sick
leave and discuss any problems with the client that your
unexpected absence might cause.
Dress
You are regarded as a professional by the client, and as such
will be expected to dress accordingly. A business suit is always
acceptable even if the local staff is more casual in their
appearance — the opposite situation could create the wrong
impression of your professionalism.
We recommend that business suits be worn for all interviews,
user meetings or meetings with staff external to the client
organisation, even if not required by the client on a day-to-day
basis.
Alcohol
Whilst it is important to establish a good working relationship
with client staff, you should be wary of lunchtime drinking, even
if it seems to be customary at your site. Should a difficulty
arise which could in any way be linked to such activity, our
experience is that the client will take a very hard view, which
could damage your professional reputation.
Attitude
You should be positive and constructive at all times — and
some circumstances can make this challenging! However if a problem
does arise which affects your ability to do your job, raise it
privately with your Infopeople consultant or your Project
Leader / Manager. Don't allow it to affect your attitude or the
morale of those around you.
There is an expectation amongst most permanent employees that
consultants have a high productivity level. Your professional
image will be enhanced if you confirm this view by your
conscientiousness and rate of work.
Performance Reviews
It is Infopeople intended policy, if circumstances allow,
conducting formal performance reviews with both client and
contractors at regular intervals to establish the satisfaction of
both parties. However, normally it is in your interests to keep
the clients informed of your progress on a more frequent basis,
and so confirm he is happy with your work.
The formal performance reviews will form part of your dossier
and will increase your marketability.
Confidentiality
Your agreement with Infopeople requires you to observe the
normal rules and regulations of the client and its requirements
regarding confidentiality and secrecy. Also to sign any such
undertaking if required to do so by the client.
Interface with Client Staff
If you work alongside the client's permanent staff, be mindful
of the need for tact and discretion. Some permanent staff may be
resentful of the presence of contract consultants, perhaps they
believe that interesting project work is being handled by
outsiders, or perhaps because of the earnings differential. You
should avoid being drawn into discussion on these issues, and
never discuss your pay rate with the client staff. At some sites,
discussion of pay rates with permanent staff or other contractors
is regarded as professional misconduct, and provides grounds for
instant dismissal.
Adopt a co-operative approach with other contractors and
particularly with client staff, passing on your skills whenever
appropriate, without being patronising or superior. Our surveys
show that permanent staff always welcome the opportunity to learn
from contractors, and this is excellent for client relations.
Avoid claiming equal status with permanent staff unless this is
the client's explicit policy. In particular, respect the benefits
the client provides only to his permanent personnel and not to
you.
You should not use the client's office facilities (e.g.
telephones, photocopying etc.) for personal purposes without
permission.
Patent/Copyright
Many clients will ask you to sign undertakings that ensure they
own the copyright and patent rights for the work you are doing
whilst on assignment to them. These will generally be the same
agreements that their permanent staff are asked to sign.
The spirit of your agreement is that the client should own any
design, programming or other work you produce and therefore you
must agree to such undertakings, providing that the client agrees
to fund the necessary costs of patenting etc.
Office Politics
Many people are attracted to consultancy work because it
enables them to put their professional and technical skills to the
forefront and avoid office politics.
However, you may find that attempts are made to draw you into
such situations. Avoid taking sides at all costs, and discuss the
situation with your Infopeople consultant.
Industrial Disputes
If you become aware of a potential industrial dispute, inform
your Infopeople consultant immediately.
You should be aware that the client cannot ask Infopeople to
instruct you to carry out the work that would otherwise be carried
out by workers in a dispute.
As a matter of principle, you should carry on doing the work
for which you were contracted, but in any event, contact your
Infopeople consultant at the earliest possible opportunity
(i.e. prior to confronting a picket line).
Grievance Procedure
Infopeople seeks to provide an effective marketing service
for the skills of independent contractors, and to provide them
with well-paid, interesting and varied assignments.
If you are less than satisfied with the service we provide to
you, you are requested to raise the matter directly with us and to
avoid involving the client, other contractors or permanent staff,
or any other third parties.
If your consultant is unable to resolve matters to your
satisfaction, you are invited to contact you local Infopeople
State Manager.
Disclaimer: This
information is of a general nature and is not to be construed as
financial advise. All facts contained therein represent the
understanding of these matters by Infopeople as at the publishing
date of this web site.
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