Am I Tied In?

[lotus_andy]

I've been contracting through an agency for a particular client (A) - this client is part-owned by a consultancy (B) and another company (C).

A has offered me an extension but I'd like to move on and I have been offered a role working directly for an off-shoot of the consultancy (D).

A, B, C and D are completely separate legal entities.

Can my current agency force me to work through them, or is the fact that A and D are not the same client free me from this restriction?

Thanks for any advice

[thunderlizard]

Yes

or maybe

No.

It rather depends what it says in the contract you have with your agency. Suggest you read it

tl

[centurian]

Read the exact wording of the restriction clause in your contract and check whether it refers to subsidiary's.

Also did you opt-in or out. If you opted in, the restriction clause is almost certainly void and the agency wouldn't even bother to squawk.

Finally, if it is a separate business, then would the agency know. They can be quite canny buggers at times (can't blame them - it is their business) and they usually find out if you have extended via the back door.

It it based at the same physical location?