Company pulling a fast one

**BolshieBastard** · 15 June 2010, 21:36

Originally posted by cnch View Post

I advised the company I am currently contracting with that I would not renew my contract (six weeks prior to termination).

What they did today was to give me 4 weeks notice (as required by the contract with my agency) - ignoring the six weeks I gave them. The manager told me they were doing it in order to save themselves two weeks money (I am on holiday for 2 of the 4 weeks which they are aware of).

They have not contacted my agency nor have they advised me in writing.

Any idea where I stand - given that I gave them more notice than required that I did not wish to renew and can one non-renewal override another?

Yerrrs. If you are not renewing, its nearly always best to leave this to around the 4 week mark so the client cannot do what they have done to you. Which is, basically trumped you Im afraid.

Just learn for next time. I'd wait until 4 weeks to the end of your contract then remind the client that according to your contract, the agency has to serve notice on you, not the client. And, as the agent hasnt served notice, you intend working to the end of your contract.

This all assumes that your contract states the agency not the client has to serve notice. Also bear in mind that as the client appear to be arsey swines, they may not pay up or allow you on site for the remaining 2 weeks of the contract.

**cojak** · 15 June 2010, 21:42

WBBS

you made a basic mistake there. When I decided not to renew I told them exactly at the 4 week mark.

Lesson learnt for next time...

**cnch** · 15 June 2010, 21:50

Yes, I really should have known better, but what a to$$er!

**TheFaQQer** · 15 June 2010, 21:51

Originally posted by cnch View Post

I advised the company I am currently contracting with that I would not renew my contract (six weeks prior to termination).

What they did today was to give me 4 weeks notice (as required by the contract with my agency) - ignoring the six weeks I gave them. The manager told me they were doing it in order to save themselves two weeks money (I am on holiday for 2 of the 4 weeks which they are aware of).

They have not contacted my agency nor have they advised me in writing.

Any idea where I stand - given that I gave them more notice than required that I did not wish to renew and can one non-renewal override another?

Oh dear - you tried to be nice, and the client responded by acting like a business instead.

If you want to maximise your income, then you could always cancel the holiday and make sure that you work that time, so the client saves nothing. Of course, you only get paid for what you work - so if they told you not to come in again, then you get £0 for it.

It's not a case of two non-renewals - it's one non-renewal and one termination.

If you want to play silly buggers, then check what the contract says about notice. Assuming that the contract says something like "four weeks in writing" then make a note of when the agency give you notice - your contract is with them, not with the client. I had a client once that gave me verbal notice, but never communicated it to the agency, so I didn't get any termination in writing as per the contract. Rather than playing games with them, though, I convinced the client that I was the nice guy in the whole mess and agreed that I wouldn't hold them to the written contract - I'd take the hit for their cock up. Might help when they do the next phase....

**cnch** · 15 June 2010, 22:00

I haven't received anything in writing from the agency and will be glad to leave - as will the other contractors who are currently looking for work - they however have learned from this and are keeping schtum (or however it is spelled).

I may however leave it a couple of days before writing to let them know about my contract being with the agency and not with them ( d*** swinging at its best - theirs not mine cos I don't have one)... and drag out another weeks work from them whilst I look for work after I return from my hols.

I am quite happy to make him feel uncomfortable for a while because he thinks he is god's gift to mankind and project management.

**northernladuk** · 16 June 2010, 00:46

Whats all this one months notice and holiday?? We going back to permie land or something?

Havn't had a contract with a 4 week notice period for years.

When you guys say you told them on the 4 week mark I presume you pick this as that was the notice period you were on.

What have people done about telling them about not renewing when you are on a week or less?

**northernladuk** · 16 June 2010, 00:51

Originally posted by BolshieBastard View Post

Just learn for next time. I'd wait until 4 weeks to the end of your contract then remind the client that according to your contract, the agency has to serve notice on you, not the client. And, as the agent hasnt served notice, you intend working to the end of your contract.

Bearing in mind the client is paying for work done all they have to do is take the work off the OP and say no more work don't come to site and therefore the client still has the say on how long you work for. Notice periods are pretty useless things if the client wants you out.

**cnch** · 16 June 2010, 17:58

@ Contractor

Do you not have holidays? I couldn't survive without them.

**TheFaQQer** · 16 June 2010, 18:58

Originally posted by cnch View Post

@ Contractor

Do you not have holidays? I couldn't survive without them.

Some believe that if you are a contractor, you should always work, just in case there comes a day when you are benched and you can't work. I worked with someone last year who chose to work weekends for the project, rather than spend time with his wife and kids. In the two years he'd been there, he hadn't taken a day off (apart from time off in lieu).

That said, he was such a **** that I'd have been grateful if I was his family.

Have a break, enjoy the time off and then turn back up at client site afterwards explaining that you haven't received notice from the agency. If the notice from the client was in an email, make no reference to it and pretend you didn't receive it. Then see how they handle it

Company pulling a fast one