When tracking billables, is it normal to just leave the clock running, even for minor breaks like bathroom/water run? Do people leave it running when they are on the subway home but still thinking about an issue or something?
I know this must vary a lot, but just curious as to what normal practice is. I can definitely see taking a 45minute subway home, while thinking about a certain task/re-reading some emails pertaining to the task, writing down to-do list for tomorrow for that specific client/issue, etc, would be billable. Comments?
How does billing work Forum
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Re: How does billing work
Figure out how many hours you were in the office or logged in remotely, etc. list all the things you did that day. Divide the time accordingly, except for things like client calls where you need the exact time. Probably add commuting time if you need more hours
- LaLiLuLeLo
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Re: How does billing work
We were told to bill if we were thinking about the matter. That would include going to the bathroom, etc. IMO it's not right or ethical.Anonymous User wrote:When tracking billables, is it normal to just leave the clock running, even for minor breaks like bathroom/water run? Do people leave it running when they are on the subway home but still thinking about an issue or something?
I know this must vary a lot, but just curious as to what normal practice is. I can definitely see taking a 45minute subway home, while thinking about a certain task/re-reading some emails pertaining to the task, writing down to-do list for tomorrow for that specific client/issue, etc, would be billable. Comments?
- zot1
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Re: How does billing work
Think of ways to make your day-to-day miserable in 6 minute increments.
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Re: How does billing work
Working on 1 thing, get up to piss/get coffee, and mind more or less stays on the task? Keep billing. Taking a break to TLS or online shop, etc. stop billing.
Reply to an email in the evening/weekends (even if it's short), bill it.
In the end, everyone has their own sense of what's fair. If sometimes you give a client some free time b/c billing it is a pain, and other times you keep the clock going, it mostly works out in the end.
I was always told to imagine you need to explain your bill to the client, can you explain what you did? If so, you're fine, even if they'd quibble with it some.
Reply to an email in the evening/weekends (even if it's short), bill it.
In the end, everyone has their own sense of what's fair. If sometimes you give a client some free time b/c billing it is a pain, and other times you keep the clock going, it mostly works out in the end.
I was always told to imagine you need to explain your bill to the client, can you explain what you did? If so, you're fine, even if they'd quibble with it some.
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