[davelnewton]

Are "coffee shops" any good? How can anybody answer that? They're fine if they're quiet and it isn't you that's being the d-bag.

If you bill for something that isn't work that's fraud, although a five minute call is a lot different from a full-on phone screen.

Go somewhere quiet, don't bill for it. Common sense.

[AznHisoka]

"don't bill for it"

You're assuming OP is a consultant or freelancer. For most salaried workers, there's no such thing as billable hours, only a set salary per year.

[davelnewton]

Use your head. Just because they do the paperwork doesn't mean you're not billing them for your time.

[AznHisoka]

Umm.. no. I can work 60 hrs a week, but I still get paid for the 40 hours. That's the definition of a salary

[davelnewton]

I get that being pedantic is fun and all, but give me a break.

If your salary reflects a 40-hr week, and you work 60, all you're doing is reducing the $/hr you make. If you do non-work-related stuff at work, and you expect compensation for it, you're billing your company for time you shouldn't be.

I refuse to believe you don't get this.

[drstewart]

When you're salary your compensation isn't based on your time. So your argument doesn't really make sense. It doesn't matter how much time you spend on non-related stuff at work, as long as you get your work done. That's kind of the point of salary.

[davelnewton]

If you're doing your work in under the "expected" hours then you're basically making more $/hr. You can couch it in whatever terminology and pedantry you want--the work you do for the company is the only time in your work chair that counts.

[jpindar]

For many of us, our salary isn't for any particular number of hours, but for accomplishing things.

[thrwy10]

dave, thanks for your response. Rest assured that I won't 'bill' them for non-work related stuff. I assumed it was obvious but will explcitly state that if take an hour off, I'll make it up later in the day.