Working long hours via an agency

[matlee]

I went freelance (site manager) at the start of 2010 and signed up with an agency (or specialist technical recruitment consultancy as the call themselves). Its all gone well since then and been kept in steady work mainly with retail refurbishments managing the night shifts.

However on the particular project i am on at the moment im working from 6pm-8am each night and 4pm-7am on sunday. As you can imagine this is wearing me out and add to that the fact im only contracted, and paid, to do 10hrs per night. The company im working for at the moment have giving me plenty of work over the last year and have a lot lined up so i dont just want to tell my project manager (he's also freelance via the same agency)where to shove the long hours as i dont want to risk future work or the income from this one to be honest.

So bearing in mind im self employed working through an agency how do i go about, if its even possible, to get my working hours down to my contracted ones without them getting shot of me and using some other mug that will do these hours?

[rog007]

I'd suggest a grown up conversation. Good luck!

[SLCZ3]

Bring in to conversation that the long shifts are starting to affect your safe working habits, involve the site HSE and if necessary the Client"s HSE.

[Eric Mc]

Self Employed?

[matlee]

Eric Mc said:

Self Employed?

Yes

[tex200]

If you are self employed, as you say, then explain to your project manager that you are contracted to do 10 hours a night and not 14. Also explain that any hours over the 10 will cost x amount and then invoice the company that you are providing the service for accordingly.

If you can't do this then I suggest that you are not really self employed but are actually an agency worker and, if this is the case, your agency are not being honest with you.

[johnfm]

Note the OP does not want to risk losing this or future work.

As Rog007 said, a calm, grown up conversation with the PM.