Client won't honour notice period, any advice?

[Jo Shmo]

Hi all,

My contract has been ended early with 'cuts forced by Finance' as the reason. The firing manager told me my performance is top notch and they don't want to let me go, so it's not an issue with my work. However I have a three month notice period which the client says he won't honour. He's offering four weeks money, provided I work them.
Where do I stand legally? The contract extension I have clearly states three months, but is only signed by me and my agency, do I have to pursue the agency for the additional money and let them fight with the client to recover it?
Also a bit concerned about damaging future hiring prospects if I take this further, but hate being cheated!
Thanks...

[malvolio]

Why do you expect to get paid when there is no work for you to do?

[WTFH]

Your contract is with the agent, not the client. Talk to the agent.

[AnotherGuy]

3 months notice. Holy sh*t. That will not hold.

[Jo Shmo]

Why do you expect to get paid when there is no work for you to do?

I don't! There is a ton of work for me to do and the client has said himself the quality of my work is excellent.

[Jo Shmo]

3 months notice. Holy sh*t. That will not hold.

Then they shouldn't have given me a contract saying as much, it's common practice in my industry. Plus, I'm good at what I do, I get job offers and the client wanted to make sure I stayed.

[BrilloPad]

Did you opt in or out?

Personally I would take the four weeks notice. Do as little as possible. And start looking round.....

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY
+ What Brillo says.

Then they shouldn't have given me a contract saying as much, it's common practice for a perm job in my industry. Plus, I'm good at what I do, I get job offers and the client wanted to make sure I stayed.

[northernladuk]

3 months is going to be a very strong IR35 indicator. I hope you've got insurance.

[malvolio]

Then they shouldn't have given me a contract saying as much, it's common practice in my industry. Plus, I'm good at what I do, I get job offers and the client wanted to make sure I stayed.

Maybe, but you are not a permie, you're a supplier of services. If you can't deliver them, you can't get paid for them. Would you pay Morrisons for not delivering your Tesco shopping?

Also go read your contract carefully; somewhere it will say something to the effect of the client being able to terminate without notice and only pay for agreed work delivered.

As others have said, your contract is to the agency. Good luck getting them to pay you when they will themselves be pressing for their losses from the client...