Should I ask to work (bill hours) on Black Friday if all my FT coworkers are off?

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I work at a large company as a consultant, paid hourly. The company is open on Black Friday but it is optional to come in to work. All my team mates, who are FT salaried employees, are taking that day off.



While I certainly have things I can do without their presence or assistance (I am a developer), I was wondering about the etiquette of asking to work and bill hours that day considering the off status of most others. I am interested in working because if I don't work, I don't get paid but also I am a lot more productive when it is peaceful around.



Is it rude or perceived greedy of me to ask to work on a day that the client is formally open but all my coworkers are off?







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    up vote
    14
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    I work at a large company as a consultant, paid hourly. The company is open on Black Friday but it is optional to come in to work. All my team mates, who are FT salaried employees, are taking that day off.



    While I certainly have things I can do without their presence or assistance (I am a developer), I was wondering about the etiquette of asking to work and bill hours that day considering the off status of most others. I am interested in working because if I don't work, I don't get paid but also I am a lot more productive when it is peaceful around.



    Is it rude or perceived greedy of me to ask to work on a day that the client is formally open but all my coworkers are off?







    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      14
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      14
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      I work at a large company as a consultant, paid hourly. The company is open on Black Friday but it is optional to come in to work. All my team mates, who are FT salaried employees, are taking that day off.



      While I certainly have things I can do without their presence or assistance (I am a developer), I was wondering about the etiquette of asking to work and bill hours that day considering the off status of most others. I am interested in working because if I don't work, I don't get paid but also I am a lot more productive when it is peaceful around.



      Is it rude or perceived greedy of me to ask to work on a day that the client is formally open but all my coworkers are off?







      share|improve this question














      I work at a large company as a consultant, paid hourly. The company is open on Black Friday but it is optional to come in to work. All my team mates, who are FT salaried employees, are taking that day off.



      While I certainly have things I can do without their presence or assistance (I am a developer), I was wondering about the etiquette of asking to work and bill hours that day considering the off status of most others. I am interested in working because if I don't work, I don't get paid but also I am a lot more productive when it is peaceful around.



      Is it rude or perceived greedy of me to ask to work on a day that the client is formally open but all my coworkers are off?









      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Sep 14 '13 at 12:12









      Rhys

      5,73623558




      5,73623558










      asked Nov 19 '12 at 19:36









      amphibient

      3,20772441




      3,20772441




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          13
          down vote



          accepted










          My point of view is also that of a consultant, so do take that in mind when reading my answer.



          There is nothing wrong with working on such a date. If the company is open for business on this day (formally so) and it is an optional day off for the salaried personnel, then this is a working day like all others, as far as you are concerned.



          Of course it is in your interest to work in such a day, which doesn't really have much meaning to you - consider that as far as the salaries personnel are concerned, they are getting a free day off, so it is in their interest to take it.



          In the same vein, it is fine to work the days between Christmas and the New Year if the company is officially open on those days, even if all your salaried colleagues have taken these days off.






          share|improve this answer
















          • 2




            Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
            – HLGEM
            Nov 19 '12 at 21:22










          • @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:22

















          up vote
          10
          down vote













          Check with the boss, don't worry about being greedy. If you work, then you get paid, that's a perfectly reasonable deal and no reason to think of it as greedy.



          It WOULD be greedy, if you intented to come in, do nothing, claim you did, and take money for that. So, instead, check with the boss. Have a list prepped of things you can do with no FT employees about, and you may even consider that there are a few clean up type tasks that may go better with fewer people around so long as you can truly do them without help. The conversation "how about I make things work more smoothly while everyone is out?" is pretty much any boss' dream come true.



          In those cases, you're maximizing your value and checking in and not taking anything for granted.






          share|improve this answer






















          • Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:23

















          up vote
          5
          down vote













          If your place of employment is open, and you have the opportunity to work, then there is absolutely nothing rude or greedy to ask to work on those days. Now, that being said, the company could say no, but it certainly won't be a negative mark against you for asking. In fact, that you are clarifying the situation would be a good mark for you, I would imagine -- it certainly would be for me if I were your boss.



          The situation would be different if your place of employment were not officially open, which you've carefully noted is not the case.



          In my own company, we have several different types of employees -- full time salaried who are overtime-eligible, full time salaried who are not overtime-eligible, and contract workers who are also overtime eligible. We have company holidays -- days when the business is technically closed -- as well as floating company holidays -- days when parts of the business are closed but others aren't -- and we take this approach: if we are open, we work. If we are sort of open and you want to work, then work. If we are not open, but there is work to be done and you want to do it -- regardless of your status -- then say so and we'll pay you to work. For us, it comes down to communicating expectations (both sides), and I would imagine it's the same in other places, so just have that conversation with your supervisor and please don't worry you're stepping out of line, because you're not (from my perspective).






          share|improve this answer




















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            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes








            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            13
            down vote



            accepted










            My point of view is also that of a consultant, so do take that in mind when reading my answer.



            There is nothing wrong with working on such a date. If the company is open for business on this day (formally so) and it is an optional day off for the salaried personnel, then this is a working day like all others, as far as you are concerned.



            Of course it is in your interest to work in such a day, which doesn't really have much meaning to you - consider that as far as the salaries personnel are concerned, they are getting a free day off, so it is in their interest to take it.



            In the same vein, it is fine to work the days between Christmas and the New Year if the company is officially open on those days, even if all your salaried colleagues have taken these days off.






            share|improve this answer
















            • 2




              Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
              – HLGEM
              Nov 19 '12 at 21:22










            • @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:22














            up vote
            13
            down vote



            accepted










            My point of view is also that of a consultant, so do take that in mind when reading my answer.



            There is nothing wrong with working on such a date. If the company is open for business on this day (formally so) and it is an optional day off for the salaried personnel, then this is a working day like all others, as far as you are concerned.



            Of course it is in your interest to work in such a day, which doesn't really have much meaning to you - consider that as far as the salaries personnel are concerned, they are getting a free day off, so it is in their interest to take it.



            In the same vein, it is fine to work the days between Christmas and the New Year if the company is officially open on those days, even if all your salaried colleagues have taken these days off.






            share|improve this answer
















            • 2




              Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
              – HLGEM
              Nov 19 '12 at 21:22










            • @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:22












            up vote
            13
            down vote



            accepted







            up vote
            13
            down vote



            accepted






            My point of view is also that of a consultant, so do take that in mind when reading my answer.



            There is nothing wrong with working on such a date. If the company is open for business on this day (formally so) and it is an optional day off for the salaried personnel, then this is a working day like all others, as far as you are concerned.



            Of course it is in your interest to work in such a day, which doesn't really have much meaning to you - consider that as far as the salaries personnel are concerned, they are getting a free day off, so it is in their interest to take it.



            In the same vein, it is fine to work the days between Christmas and the New Year if the company is officially open on those days, even if all your salaried colleagues have taken these days off.






            share|improve this answer












            My point of view is also that of a consultant, so do take that in mind when reading my answer.



            There is nothing wrong with working on such a date. If the company is open for business on this day (formally so) and it is an optional day off for the salaried personnel, then this is a working day like all others, as far as you are concerned.



            Of course it is in your interest to work in such a day, which doesn't really have much meaning to you - consider that as far as the salaries personnel are concerned, they are getting a free day off, so it is in their interest to take it.



            In the same vein, it is fine to work the days between Christmas and the New Year if the company is officially open on those days, even if all your salaried colleagues have taken these days off.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Nov 19 '12 at 19:43









            Oded

            21.1k57597




            21.1k57597







            • 2




              Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
              – HLGEM
              Nov 19 '12 at 21:22










            • @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:22












            • 2




              Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
              – HLGEM
              Nov 19 '12 at 21:22










            • @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:22







            2




            2




            Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
            – HLGEM
            Nov 19 '12 at 21:22




            Even when we are not open for business, we rarely have an issue with a consultant choosing to work on a holiday as we know they don't get paid holidays. I would just let the boss know in advance that you want to work that day and make sure it is approved in advance.
            – HLGEM
            Nov 19 '12 at 21:22












            @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:22




            @HLGEM: agreed 100%. If there's work to be done and if you give advance warning to whoever signs off your invoices, I see no issue. Certainly it's not rude or greedy.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:22












            up vote
            10
            down vote













            Check with the boss, don't worry about being greedy. If you work, then you get paid, that's a perfectly reasonable deal and no reason to think of it as greedy.



            It WOULD be greedy, if you intented to come in, do nothing, claim you did, and take money for that. So, instead, check with the boss. Have a list prepped of things you can do with no FT employees about, and you may even consider that there are a few clean up type tasks that may go better with fewer people around so long as you can truly do them without help. The conversation "how about I make things work more smoothly while everyone is out?" is pretty much any boss' dream come true.



            In those cases, you're maximizing your value and checking in and not taking anything for granted.






            share|improve this answer






















            • Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:23














            up vote
            10
            down vote













            Check with the boss, don't worry about being greedy. If you work, then you get paid, that's a perfectly reasonable deal and no reason to think of it as greedy.



            It WOULD be greedy, if you intented to come in, do nothing, claim you did, and take money for that. So, instead, check with the boss. Have a list prepped of things you can do with no FT employees about, and you may even consider that there are a few clean up type tasks that may go better with fewer people around so long as you can truly do them without help. The conversation "how about I make things work more smoothly while everyone is out?" is pretty much any boss' dream come true.



            In those cases, you're maximizing your value and checking in and not taking anything for granted.






            share|improve this answer






















            • Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:23












            up vote
            10
            down vote










            up vote
            10
            down vote









            Check with the boss, don't worry about being greedy. If you work, then you get paid, that's a perfectly reasonable deal and no reason to think of it as greedy.



            It WOULD be greedy, if you intented to come in, do nothing, claim you did, and take money for that. So, instead, check with the boss. Have a list prepped of things you can do with no FT employees about, and you may even consider that there are a few clean up type tasks that may go better with fewer people around so long as you can truly do them without help. The conversation "how about I make things work more smoothly while everyone is out?" is pretty much any boss' dream come true.



            In those cases, you're maximizing your value and checking in and not taking anything for granted.






            share|improve this answer














            Check with the boss, don't worry about being greedy. If you work, then you get paid, that's a perfectly reasonable deal and no reason to think of it as greedy.



            It WOULD be greedy, if you intented to come in, do nothing, claim you did, and take money for that. So, instead, check with the boss. Have a list prepped of things you can do with no FT employees about, and you may even consider that there are a few clean up type tasks that may go better with fewer people around so long as you can truly do them without help. The conversation "how about I make things work more smoothly while everyone is out?" is pretty much any boss' dream come true.



            In those cases, you're maximizing your value and checking in and not taking anything for granted.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Nov 19 '12 at 21:20









            HLGEM

            133k25227489




            133k25227489










            answered Nov 19 '12 at 20:24









            bethlakshmi

            70.4k4136277




            70.4k4136277











            • Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:23
















            • Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
              – Carson63000
              Nov 20 '12 at 0:23















            Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:23




            Having a prepared list of "this is what I intend to get done on that day" is indeed an excellent suggestion.
            – Carson63000
            Nov 20 '12 at 0:23










            up vote
            5
            down vote













            If your place of employment is open, and you have the opportunity to work, then there is absolutely nothing rude or greedy to ask to work on those days. Now, that being said, the company could say no, but it certainly won't be a negative mark against you for asking. In fact, that you are clarifying the situation would be a good mark for you, I would imagine -- it certainly would be for me if I were your boss.



            The situation would be different if your place of employment were not officially open, which you've carefully noted is not the case.



            In my own company, we have several different types of employees -- full time salaried who are overtime-eligible, full time salaried who are not overtime-eligible, and contract workers who are also overtime eligible. We have company holidays -- days when the business is technically closed -- as well as floating company holidays -- days when parts of the business are closed but others aren't -- and we take this approach: if we are open, we work. If we are sort of open and you want to work, then work. If we are not open, but there is work to be done and you want to do it -- regardless of your status -- then say so and we'll pay you to work. For us, it comes down to communicating expectations (both sides), and I would imagine it's the same in other places, so just have that conversation with your supervisor and please don't worry you're stepping out of line, because you're not (from my perspective).






            share|improve this answer
























              up vote
              5
              down vote













              If your place of employment is open, and you have the opportunity to work, then there is absolutely nothing rude or greedy to ask to work on those days. Now, that being said, the company could say no, but it certainly won't be a negative mark against you for asking. In fact, that you are clarifying the situation would be a good mark for you, I would imagine -- it certainly would be for me if I were your boss.



              The situation would be different if your place of employment were not officially open, which you've carefully noted is not the case.



              In my own company, we have several different types of employees -- full time salaried who are overtime-eligible, full time salaried who are not overtime-eligible, and contract workers who are also overtime eligible. We have company holidays -- days when the business is technically closed -- as well as floating company holidays -- days when parts of the business are closed but others aren't -- and we take this approach: if we are open, we work. If we are sort of open and you want to work, then work. If we are not open, but there is work to be done and you want to do it -- regardless of your status -- then say so and we'll pay you to work. For us, it comes down to communicating expectations (both sides), and I would imagine it's the same in other places, so just have that conversation with your supervisor and please don't worry you're stepping out of line, because you're not (from my perspective).






              share|improve this answer






















                up vote
                5
                down vote










                up vote
                5
                down vote









                If your place of employment is open, and you have the opportunity to work, then there is absolutely nothing rude or greedy to ask to work on those days. Now, that being said, the company could say no, but it certainly won't be a negative mark against you for asking. In fact, that you are clarifying the situation would be a good mark for you, I would imagine -- it certainly would be for me if I were your boss.



                The situation would be different if your place of employment were not officially open, which you've carefully noted is not the case.



                In my own company, we have several different types of employees -- full time salaried who are overtime-eligible, full time salaried who are not overtime-eligible, and contract workers who are also overtime eligible. We have company holidays -- days when the business is technically closed -- as well as floating company holidays -- days when parts of the business are closed but others aren't -- and we take this approach: if we are open, we work. If we are sort of open and you want to work, then work. If we are not open, but there is work to be done and you want to do it -- regardless of your status -- then say so and we'll pay you to work. For us, it comes down to communicating expectations (both sides), and I would imagine it's the same in other places, so just have that conversation with your supervisor and please don't worry you're stepping out of line, because you're not (from my perspective).






                share|improve this answer












                If your place of employment is open, and you have the opportunity to work, then there is absolutely nothing rude or greedy to ask to work on those days. Now, that being said, the company could say no, but it certainly won't be a negative mark against you for asking. In fact, that you are clarifying the situation would be a good mark for you, I would imagine -- it certainly would be for me if I were your boss.



                The situation would be different if your place of employment were not officially open, which you've carefully noted is not the case.



                In my own company, we have several different types of employees -- full time salaried who are overtime-eligible, full time salaried who are not overtime-eligible, and contract workers who are also overtime eligible. We have company holidays -- days when the business is technically closed -- as well as floating company holidays -- days when parts of the business are closed but others aren't -- and we take this approach: if we are open, we work. If we are sort of open and you want to work, then work. If we are not open, but there is work to be done and you want to do it -- regardless of your status -- then say so and we'll pay you to work. For us, it comes down to communicating expectations (both sides), and I would imagine it's the same in other places, so just have that conversation with your supervisor and please don't worry you're stepping out of line, because you're not (from my perspective).







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered Nov 19 '12 at 19:43









                jcmeloni

                21.6k87393




                21.6k87393






















                     

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