Do most gov contractors work/get paid 8.5 hour days?

[Anonymous]

Including 30 min. unpaid lunchtime similar to gov. workers?

I've only worked as a fed and am considering moving to a private industry position and factoring my commute time. There's no political or other comparison subtext, or overtime discussions.

[Anonymous]

Nope. You only get paid for the number of hours the contracting company can bill to the government, so 8 hours per day/40 hours per week (unless additional hours are approved by the govt client). Lunch is not paid. And if you were salary you are not getting paid for additional hours over eight per day/40 per week.

[Anonymous]

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Lol. Half hour lunch as a consultant as something away from work. Lunch is Al Desko.

[Anonymous]

This really depends on where you work. If you talk about work at lunch, you can bill that time to the client, for example.

[Anonymous]

I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

[Anonymous]

Yes, OP here. Thank you. I couldn't think of the right phrasing at the time.

I'll ask about average working hours, overtime, etc. if I get a job offer, to help determine commuting options.

[Anonymous]

.. and I appreciate all replies and insight that have been offered. I thought I wouldn't get any replies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

Not sure where you work, but a lot of agencies did away with the 8.5 hr rule a while ago. We now just have to be online 8 hrs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

Not sure where you work, but a lot of agencies did away with the 8.5 hr rule a while ago. We now just have to be online 8 hrs.

Where do you work? Not saying it didn't happen -- the government is a big place -- but I haven't heard of this. Even though most of us eat lunch at our desks, the typical person doesn't work 8 hours straight with no breaks to pee or stretch and that's what an 8.5 hour requirement reflects. I've had supervisors hand-wave it so that people could flex their schedules a bit, but that didn't change our official hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

Not sure where you work, but a lot of agencies did away with the 8.5 hr rule a while ago. We now just have to be online 8 hrs.

Where do you work? Not saying it didn't happen -- the government is a big place -- but I haven't heard of this. Even though most of us eat lunch at our desks, the typical person doesn't work 8 hours straight with no breaks to pee or stretch and that's what an 8.5 hour requirement reflects. I've had supervisors hand-wave it so that people could flex their schedules a bit, but that didn't change our official hours.

No, pee and stretch are not unpaid - just the old half hour lunch break. My agency hasn’t demanded it for years. Most people eat at their desks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

Not sure where you work, but a lot of agencies did away with the 8.5 hr rule a while ago. We now just have to be online 8 hrs.

I work at DOJ, and we are required to log 8.5 hours per day as employees. I think it’s an OPM rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think folks are missing the point of OP’s post. They aren’t asking if they can bill for lunch. They are asking if they need to be at their desk for 8.5 hours. I’m a government employee and we have to be on the clock (if working from home) or at our desks for 8.5 hours so that we can work 8 hours plus have a .5 hour unpaid lunch. That’s what OP is asking.

No that's weird. We just need to bill 8 hours.

[Anonymous]

OP - contractor rules are not the same as government employee rules. If you're at work 8 hours, bill 8 hours. You don't have to take time off to go to the restroom, that PP is nuts.