Work has been postponed and I'm out of pocket. WWYD?

[thelittlestkiwi]

Hi all

I'm contracting for an organisation I used to work for before moving O/S. I'm working for a new boss- did two weeks in Jan and two days earlier this week. I was also supposed to work tomorrow and Friday but it's just been postponed a fortnight. I don't have a contract yet as it came up at the last minute. This isn't ideal but it suits me to work for this organisation at this point in time. The problem is, I booked and paid for extra childcare as we had agreed I would work. So I'm out of pocket due to the date change.

Would it be reasonable to ask them to cover my costs for one of the days? Or would I be shooting myself in the foot? I'd like to keep working for them and they have been reasonable in the past.

It's a hard one in this climate and with a job that seem to suit your situation. If it's the first time, I would let it go, but do make the point you have booked and paid for childcare and in future you need at least 7 days notice (or whatever your childcare provider needs).

I had some work booked in Feb, 5 days, that was cancelled until April, I was so peed off as I had felt a sense of releif that £ was coming in with a pile of bills to pay, but it was not worth the moan, however much I would like to shout! DS1 is at school and DS2 at pre-school and my Mum was going to help out.

I think that it would be difficult unless they had already agreed to a contract that includes cancellation terms.

My personal point of view is that short-notice changes are one of the risks of being self-employed, that is one of the reasons why contractor rates are higher than those of employees.

Can you use this situation as a push forward to get the contract done and dusted.
So then they know you are out of pocket by bringing it up.

Thanks guys. I think I'll let it go this time as it has sort of suited me to not work this week. But I'll mention it in an email as we rearrange the dates and say it will be difficult for me and cost me money again if the work gets postponed a second time. The postponement wasn't down to the people I contract for. They've been quite good and gave me a daily rate 25% that I asked for so I think I'll just swallow it on this occasion. Although they still owe me for the work I did in Jan. Grrr.

DH and I lost money with the snow
you just grin and bear it sadly

Any chance you can sort something out with the nursery/childcare and see if they will let you reserve something until you get your contract and shift the days if your contract shifts?

I have a fab nursery and they have been really helpful and flexible about fitting ds2 in when my dates change thanks to the joys of projects slipping (funny how they never come forward!)

Might be worth having a chat with them to see if there is something you can do, even if it is to pay a half rate...

hard isn't it? I had work cancelled on monday for today and next thursday - but as these are my 'bread and butter' people i just say, 'bit more notice in future would really help me' and leave it at that.

but i do now surcharge 10% for invoices unpaid at 30 days!

The nursery have been really good- I suspect they would have let me cancel today but I want to stay on good terms with them and see if this contracting is going to work for me. They've just taken 5 kids who've relocated to Auckland cos of the Christchurch earthquake so space it tight! And the child free days are letting me get some chores sorted.

I've not made a fuss about the days being shifted but am trying to get them to commit to the new dates. Unfortunately, it our client who is causing the shift so it's not even really their fault. You lot are right- this is just part of contracting and having wee ones so I'm not going to stress about it.

Good news is they finally paid me. Bad new is my laptop just died so I need a new one. Life is like snakes and ladders isn't it!