To stay or not to stay......

**Batcher** · 6 February 2015, 16:20

Originally posted by acnm View Post

I've been in contract now for 5.5 months and renewed a month ago for another 6 months.
The contract itself is fine - location is perfect for me, people are pretty good, rate is on the low side but OK.

The problem I have is that I am so bored that I can hardly fill the day. If I work more than 2 hours a day I would be surprised. The rest of the time I'm busy trying to give the impression that I have things to do, though I have indicated that I would like to expand my role to better utilise my time and experience. I'm so used to entering a new role and hitting the ground running - usually I have no problem filling the day and often have to leave things undone. Here it's either that I am too efficient and get things done quicker (this is partly the case) or that they are so accustomed to working at a snails pace that they see nothing wrong.

I know I'm not the only one in this position but I've been constantly told that I'm doing a great job and everything is fantastic. I'm seriously considering leaving - if only for my own sanity.

Yeah, just leave. There are plenty people on the bench who would be happy to take your place.

**psychocandy** · 6 February 2015, 16:27

Things to consider:-

1) Is rate good?
2) Is it close to home or miles away?
3) Is the tech you work with looking good on your CV or is it old crap?
4) Do you need the money for warchest?
5) Is it a nice place to work? Are the people nice?
6) Can you get away with surfing the web for the remaining 5 hours?
7) Can you get away with long lunches/go early?

Couple of YES and sorted here.

**AMH** · 6 February 2015, 17:19

ahem... i can only guess this contract is in the public sector

**vwdan** · 6 February 2015, 20:49

Originally posted by Batcher View Post

Yeah, just leave. There are plenty people on the bench who would be happy to take your place.

There's more to it then that, though. I'm currently rescuing a project and the guy who I wound up replacing now has the issue that he's basically got to explain away 18+ months of unfinished work that should have been completed in 6-12 Max. Its not really his fault, but its difficult to put that the client didn't pull their finger out on your CV.

If you're doing BAU work it doesn't really matter, but if you have quantifiable deliverables then it can leave some awkward questions.

I'm also pretty bored, tbh, but I'll be out in a month or so if it doesn't hot up. Some of us actually like getting stuff done and pride ourselves on it. Isn't staying in a job cos you're scared to leave called being an employee?

**northernladuk** · 7 February 2015, 16:35

I've been in this position which was an ideal client in all areas except the work and I ended up turning down an extension for my own sanity and haven't looked back since. Had a bit of time on the bench and the company balance might have been a little bit better if I had stayed but am back to loving contracting. New clients, good solid work. Change is as good as a break and all that. Also because I bailed rather than got a bad rep and kicked out they keep asking my availability from time to time. If I'd have gone as dead wood that wouldn't be happening.

Contracting is a long term thing, there are plenty of clients out there and it's not like we get paid peanuts. If the work is crap then move on. Once you get something good you'll wonder why you didn't go earlier IMO.

Of course it depends on if you can travel, what clients are in your area, chance of getting work etc. But if you are pretty flexible then i'd say go.

**Willapp** · 9 February 2015, 08:57

Agree with NLUK. You'll get plenty of responses telling you to suck it up, that being paid is all that matters etc etc. but I think most contractors (the good ones anyway...) do the job because we actually like to make a difference to our clients and achieve something. There's nothing more frustrating than spending 50%+ of your day idle because you're waiting on the client or other resource and there's no other way of being productive.

I've not experienced it myself (yet), but providing I had enough in the warchest to cope with a few months downtime, I would absolutely leave somewhere if there wasn't enough work to be done. I'd even be tempted to tell the client the reason as well - let's face it you're basically saying "you don't need to be paying me this money, there isn't enough work to do, call me when things get busy", and that seems like something a client ought to respect and appreciate.

**jmo21** · 9 February 2015, 09:36

Some clients probably know roughly how much people are being utilised and are ok with that, as you are an insurance policy almost having you around.

Why not ask for working from home, or a drop to 4 days a week? Assuming you are ok billing slightly less of course.

**unixman** · 9 February 2015, 11:19

Agree with jmo21. The client needs you, but the requirement won't always add up to 40 hours a week. They are probably aware of that and just want you around anyway.

Personally, I find not having enough to do hard to deal with. But it is easier to deal with than being at home all day. If you do leave, I would line something else up first.

Incidentally, off topic but is there a way to remove that panel of animated emoticons from the ContractorUK edit window ?

**TheFaQQer** · 9 February 2015, 11:24

Originally posted by unixman View Post

Incidentally, off topic but is there a way to remove that panel of animated emoticons from the ContractorUK edit window ?

Setting > General Settings > Basic Editor

To stay or not to stay......