How bad is it...

[Unix]

I'd look at the detail of the situation (which we don't know), weigh up the fact this is my first gig and impact (which we don't know) and then discuss the situation and come to an agreement to either leave on good terms immediately or give notice and work it out.

Only an unprofessional tit would just stand up and walk off. It's this guys first ever contract. What might work for us cause we can shoulder it and it won't impact our future career may not work for him in his situation.

OK everyone, NLUK has spoken only his opinion is valid and right. No other contractors who have been through this and dealt with it successfully are allowed to post an opinion.

If I was a client I would want to know immediately if a contractor wasn't happy and preferred they walked earlier rather than waiting a few weeks/months when they had business knowledge that would be lost.

[northernladuk]

How much of a hardship is that to you really? How far is this remote office and is it for the duration of the gig or is it from project start up? And the client gets it but won't bend?

What is said in the interview means squat. What does it say in your contract?

[psychocandy]

Gents,
My question wasn't posted to start a heated debate - I was just looking for some feedback. Just to give you some more info, the role was meant to be 1 day in a remote office, 4 days in the city - its now 3/4 days in the remote office and 1 day in the city, the situation is quite different from what was presented in the interview. Hence my thoughts about leaving.

I've spoken to the client and they get it - they don't want me to leave but they understand why I would want to.

Anyone been in a similar situation before?

Is this day split in your contract? Or was this just the unwritten agreement?
How far away/how much hassle is the remote office?

If its in the contract, then surely they are in breach trying to change and most of you are talking bollax.

Would you do it? If it was me, and it now meant I had to spend 3-4 days away and I wasnt planning to then that would be the end of it for me too. I'd give notice if possible though rather than walk but would bail if I had to without notice.

Permies get treated like this. You're working in office x this week like it or lump it. Not contractors.

I've been in similar. At the beginning, was told max 4 weeks in location A then working in location B (close to home). After 5 weeks I asked what was going on. Manager knew bugger all about it and assumed I was staying in A. I gave my notice and left.

My mistake was not getting it in the contract as well. But it ended up being internal politics bollax - not interested.

[psychocandy]

How much of a hardship is that to you really? How far is this remote office and is it for the duration of the gig or is it from project start up? And the client gets it but won't bend?

What is said in the interview means squat. What does it say in your contract?

Yeh the hardship thing is important. OP needs to ask does he still want gig if hes got to work as client is asking.

Depends on your outlook. Does he really want the gig? Is it hassle to work in new location? I would agree that since its first gig then maybe he needs to be careful.

Location is important to me. I dont trek all over the country. If I agreed a gig like this and then it changed and I had to work somewhere else, I'd be out of the door asap.

[northernladuk]

Yeh the hardship thing is important. OP needs to ask does he still want gig if hes got to work as client is asking.

Depends on your outlook. Does he really want the gig? Is it hassle to work in new location? I would agree that since its first gig then maybe he needs to be careful.

Location is important to me. I dont trek all over the country. If I agreed a gig like this and then it changed and I had to work somewhere else, I'd be out of the door asap.

Indeed so the OP has some big decision to make. If working away is a big problem he has to take that into account in the long run but he is the only one that can decide whether invoicing or a local gig is his priority. He's in a strong position to negotiate so he's got to try and use that.

[TheFaQQer]

My question wasn't posted to start a heated debate - I was just looking for some feedback. Just to give you some more info, the role was meant to be 1 day in a remote office, 4 days in the city - its now 3/4 days in the remote office and 1 day in the city, the situation is quite different from what was presented in the interview. Hence my thoughts about leaving.

What does the contract say about the location? If the reality is significantly different from the contract, then you should take this up with the agency with whom you have a contract. If the reality is very different, then you should look at your IPSE+ insurance, which may pay out £1000 in this scenario - assuming that you are a member of IPSE of course.

I've spoken to the client and they get it - they don't want me to leave but they understand why I would want to.

So the way to get out is to either get the client to terminate immediately (assuming they have the right), give your notice and work that (assuming you can give notice), or walk and face the risk that you can be sued for breaching your contract.

Read the contract carefully and see what the optimum solution is here for you - breaching your contract right at the start of the first contract really isn't smart.

[BolshieBastard]

Gents,
My question wasn't posted to start a heated debate - I was just looking for some feedback. Just to give you some more info, the role was meant to be 1 day in a remote office, 4 days in the city - its now 3/4 days in the remote office and 1 day in the city, the situation is quite different from what was presented in the interview. Hence my thoughts about leaving.

I've spoken to the client and they get it - they don't want me to leave but they understand why I would want to.

Anyone been in a similar situation before?

I had something similar once. Role was based 12 miles from home. After about 5 weeks, the Programme Manager wanted me to be 40 miles away down the motorway in another office.

I just said I wasnt happy with that as the job was stated as being where I was (12 miles from home). I managed to get another manager on side by showing the stuff I needed to do plus produce stuff for them was best done where I was and not 40 miles away. Plus I offered to visit the other office from time to time to resolve other issues that may arise.

They could have said tough you're moving but they didnt and everything worked out.

You need to raise your concerns and show you can still do your job based in the original location. If they insist then you should serve termination notice and not just walk off.

Would I chuck it all in for that? Unlikely unless I was seriously hacked off.

[Goldengirl]

To be fair to the OP, it seems the contract may have changed significantly from what they signed. How they came to accept those changes is not clear nor even if they did accept those changes.

Before making assumptions and giving advice, it would be better to understand those circumstances. If e.g. the location changed to 150 miles further in the opposite direction, it would be appropriate for the OP to either seek to renegotiate or give notice.

I totally agree! Don´t be too quick with judgements!
We all know, that sometimes the reality turns out very different from what the agent knows or promises. And most of the time we would accept that and go along with it.
However, a contract is something that goes two ways, it doesn´t mean that the contractor is made a slave who has to follow his/her master´s every whim!

For instance, I am a single mum, and always make it very clear, that I don´t ever do full-time on site, especially not, if this means that I would have to be away the entire week in Brussels, or Bristol or Berlin or whereever, because I cannot leave my little daughter alone with just the aupair all this time.

If I would come into a contract, where I was promised one thing/my terms have been accepted, but all of a sudden I have to be somewhere away constantly, I would definitely say "can´t do this, we didn´t agree this" and walk away, because my daughter´s wellbeing is more important than some clients´ system.

Of course, one would need to discuss and either renegotiate a solution going forward, which is suitable for both, or agree an exit strategy based on notice period, which again is suitable for both sides.

So, I would say, in this particular case, it depends a LOT on the actual detailed circumstances, what was discussed/agreed beforehand etc etc.

If it´s simply "cant be bothered", though, that of coures is not professional, I´d agree

[psychocandy]

I totally agree! Don´t be too quick with judgements!
We all know, that sometimes the reality turns out very different from what the agent knows or promises. And most of the time we would accept that and go along with it.
However, a contract is something that goes two ways, it doesn´t mean that the contractor is made a slave who has to follow his/her master´s every whim!

For instance, I am a single mum, and always make it very clear, that I don´t ever do full-time on site, especially not, if this means that I would have to be away the entire week in Brussels, or Bristol or Berlin or whereever, because I cannot leave my little daughter alone with just the aupair all this time.

If I would come into a contract, where I was promised one thing/my terms have been accepted, but all of a sudden I have to be somewhere away constantly, I would definitely say "can´t do this, we didn´t agree this" and walk away, because my daughter´s wellbeing is more important than some clients´ system.

Of course, one would need to discuss and either renegotiate a solution going forward, which is suitable for both, or agree an exit strategy based on notice period, which again is suitable for both sides.

So, I would say, in this particular case, it depends a LOT on the actual detailed circumstances, what was discussed/agreed beforehand etc etc.

If it´s simply "cant be bothered", though, that of coures is not professional, I´d agree

Must be tough GG. You have my admiration making this work.

I take it you work in IT as well?

I've found its always male-dominated and the expectation is always as the fella that you get funny looks if you say I cant stay late I've got to get the kids. Almost as if they're looking at you saying 'you've got a wife havent you?'.

I've had different issues. My wife is long term ill and does struggle day to day (especially with young child) so, even though I've made all the arrangements I can (childcare, family members staying to help, paying for cleaners etc) sometimes its just difficult to not be home on time.

Emergencies/tech issues are part of the deal but some clients have wound me up in the past where this has been caused by lack of planning. There've been times when I've had to mention personal cicumstances to client and said please give me notice so I can sort something out but its fallen on deaf ears and no-one can be arsed and its last minute again.

[Eirikur]

If you do walk out without notice and you don't mention it in your cv make sure it's also not mentioned on LinkedIn. Also don't post your new contract on LinkedIn until you're well in that one or even finished as your old client may give your new client a call and tell him what happened. (Have seen this happen)