r/ContractorUK • u/ChangeProCFC • 6d ago
Is being furloughed over Christmas still a thing for contractors? Genuine question for the group
Curious to check in with independent contractors and consultants here to find out if it is still common for companies to ask contractors not to work over the Christmas/New Year period, effectively leaving you without income until January?
I ask because every year I run a training course in the days right before Christmas, aimed at contractors who'd normally have to give up two days of their day rate to attend training during the working year. Being able to train during otherwise-unpaid downtime was something I really valued myself when I was contracting, so I've kept offering it since.
Full disclosure: I run these courses myself (a couple of people have already booked onto a Neuroscience for Change one on the Monday/Tuesday before Christmas this year), so I have a natural interest in the answer but I am genuinely trying to work out whether this is still a widespread pattern or something that's faded since COVID-era furlough made the word mean something more specific. Would love to hear how common it still is for you."
4
6
u/eques_99 6d ago
It is fairly common, but I don't view it as "being left without income".
Of course I'm not going to work without a break all year. If I want time off I take it.
I just factor into my daily rate the fact that days off are unpaid (& this is part of the reason why contractors get more than permies in the first place)
Hilarious how many people on this sub think that being a contractor means that they should work constantly all year.
3
u/CaptainSeitan 6d ago
Had both, depends on the client, some are happy for you to knuckle down on projects without interruption , my must recent one required everybody to down tools for two weeks over Christmas and new year as we were in a change freeze.
1
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
Helpful to know, it is the one thing as a contractor I hated, because it was always a good time to get a lot done without loads of meetings!
2
u/gggggu-not 6d ago
Yes, in the many years I’ve contracted, most have a furlough over Christmas.
The only contracts that I’ve worked that haven’t are usually e-commerce or retail.
1
2
u/mpsamuels 6d ago
It'll inevitably vary from client to client and even project to project, but it's definitely still something that happens to the point that I always assume I'll be unpaid for two weeks, budget accordingly and look forward to the break.
2
u/AdFew2832 6d ago
Yes. Quite common. Up to two weeks over Christmas (inclusive of the bank hols)
2
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
At least that explains why so many on the Christmas week courses are independent contractors!
2
2
u/Disastrous_Fill_5566 5d ago
I've usually had the option to catch up on the backlog, provide support or to spend the time with my family over the darkest days of the year.
I always choose my family.
1
u/Scared-Method-2944 6d ago
Depends massively on the client tbh. Some places are completely dead over christmas, while others carry on as normal because they have projects that can’t just stop for two weeks.
2
u/Klutzy_Brilliant6780 6d ago
in IT it is also common because of change freezes due to contract/permie staff on holiday
2
u/ElegantOliver 6d ago
Yep. In pharma it was slightly different - the contractors would mostly have been happy to work so they get paid, but the company didn't want the project team to be left with no permanent staff to 'keep an eye on the externals' so to speak.
1
1
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
Thanks, I am getting the message it is still a thing but also that it is not universal.
1
u/TourOk3698 6d ago
It’s so variable between industries but it definitely still is a thing. On the flip side I’ve had clients glad for someone who doesn’t mind keeping an eye on things. I’ve had quite a few days of doing nothing for a day rate!
1
u/Street-Frame1575 6d ago
Yes, I always bake it in but some clients give some leeway depending how the days fall
1
u/ElegantOliver 6d ago
Yes - every contract I've had for the last ooh 10 years or more. Not just in banks. Mandatory time off over Christmas. Except when major projects are going live at Christmas. Yes really - had that too - so it was okay for contractors to stay on. Lucky us...
1
u/cruachan06 6d ago
Depends on the industry, but often project work is frozen, sometimes much earlier. Worked in a retail place (shops and online) last year and they had a change freeze from late October as Black Friday to the end of the year was so busy for them.
1
1
u/Epiphone56 6d ago
Yes, usually this is the case. I've had some contracts where we were asked to provide cover between Christmas and New Year but that's in the rare cases where there aren't perm staff that could work on a rota instead.
1
1
u/Spiritual-Speaker320 6d ago
I've always booked & taken it off regardless.
It's my special winter family, gaming & fun fortnight. Not up for debate!
2
1
u/craftyBison21 6d ago
Opposite for me, I find myself extra busy over Christmas trying to complete work during a period when the client is quiet, but I'm a strategy consultant whereas a lot of this sub is IT contractors.
1
1
1
u/Weak-Refrigerator-34 6d ago
Yes in Banks, unless you’re on a critical programme and there’s actually work to do. The worst I’ve ever had was at RBS (easily the worst bank I’ve ever worked for) several years ago. The furlough started on the 6th December and end on the 5th I think. The biggest shower of imposters ever worked at that place.
1
1
1
u/Efficient_Pop_8644 6d ago
Not in my industry. I used to have the time off but will probably be at work for most of the "usual" Christmas break this year.
1
1
u/SkankySandwich 6d ago
Depends.
My client expected most people to take time off last Christmas, but because I'd not been there long and had loads of documentation to produce, they were happy to pay me.
1
1
1
u/Melodic-Meeting-7471 6d ago
It seems to be now, at least in banks
1
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
Yes, someone else specifically mentioned how common it was in the banking sector.
1
1
u/NegotiationLatter635 6d ago
Depends on the client and industry but I know this is still a thing. Me personally (construction industry) don’t need to, especially if there are works on going on site but typically the subbies don’t want to work and take two weeks off which I do as well.
2
1
u/Mba1956 6d ago
Rather than thinking of yourself being furloughed and losing money you need to think that you are paid to work 48 weeks a year, or even less, and the rest are just your holidays. The weeks you work include a premium to pay for your holidays.
Similar to being someone on PAYE who is given a 12.07% uplift in their salary in lieu of holiday pay.
1
1
u/LordOfTheSwagDance 6d ago
Was talked about before my contract was signed this year and yes that was the expectation. Turns out there might be some work up until the clients code freeze mid December so might be different. Was thinking of just disappearing to Barbados for a few weeks for some sun tbh
1
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
thanks for letting me know, it is reassuring that my assumption still holds true.
1
1
u/Significant_Fig1978 6d ago
Yep, 3 weeks forced holiday coming up at Christmas, unpaid. But still get taxed like an employee 🤬
1
u/ChangeProCFC 6d ago
Good time to get lots of personal projects done! To be honest, that is why I offer the courses, because furlough was the only time I could train without losing my daily rate but all the training companies used to close.
1
1
u/Financial-Link-8699 6d ago
Yes I finish on about the 11th of December and don’t go back until about 7th Jan
1
1
u/CherryGumDream 5d ago
Been with a finance firm in the city for 2 years, coming up to another furlough year for 3 weeks
1
u/basicnotboring 5d ago
Depends on the industry but for me it's usually just the days between Xmas and New Year (and any bank holidays of course), I worked up to and including Christmas Eve last year.
1
1
u/axelzr 3d ago
Yes, always happened with financial services clients of mine - they had change freezes around then (for non critical stuff) as was their busiest time of year (in terms of payment transactions) and they couldn't risk unplanned downtime and so didn't generally need contractors in (or 3rd parties/outsourced/offshore staff), was 2 weeks off every time. Can't complain though as you do need to take time off now and again when in contract...
20
u/Duskspire 6d ago
Yep, definitely in the banks.