Quote:
Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Asking anyone who is billing to actually be working, however, isn't BS at all. There is always something to do. I agree that the time working should be put down, and if that includes an hour of boarding and booking time, so be it. But no one said you can't work on the plane.
But my custom is that unless it is a premium arrangement or some other special circumstance, I only bill time I'm actually doing something, which doesn't include sleeping (but may in the right circumstances include drinking or eating). On a 16 hour flight, I'd probably bill 10 to 12 hours, less if seated by someone, um, interesting.
G(alot of fun at closings)3
|
I am often on a plane in situations where there just isn't that much to do. A lot of what I do is talking on the phone, which can't really be done on a plance (My firm expressly forbids using the airfone, which is absurdly expensive, unless specifically authorized as part of the fee agreement with the client. Since I got my Blackberry (which is really great, by the way), I have e-mailed extensively on the one flight I was on (FCC be damned), but there just isn't always that much to do.
I don't really see anything wrong with billing from the second I leave the office or my home to the second I arrive in the hotel. That is time that I can't work normally. If they don't want to pay me, they can get someone else and some other law firm to fly all over the country without being compensated for the time.
Also, I am really glad that my firm assumes 100% realization for associate compensation purposes. Unless I am doing something fraudulent, why should I be penalized for non-standard relationship partners I work under may have with their clients.
