Notice period - wondering if I should negotiate down.

[ForBajor]

I've landed a new contract offer - great role, 6 months, contract looking positive so far (in review) from IR35 perspective.

The only gripe I have is the notice period I have to give the client: 1 month. I'm wondering if, and how to, negotiate this down to 1 week. The reason for this is being able to jump if the contract is rubbish. Having a 1 month notice period basically means it will be nigh on impossible to jump to another contract once I'm in, and that's a problem for me. I guess in my mind one of the things that attracted me to contracting is freedom of movement, and shorter notice periods compared to permies.

It could be that the client has accidentally left this in from a longer term contract, or it could be intentional.

It could be that I can get this down to 1 week without a problem, considering I've been offered the position and we've targeted a start date.

I'm considering a compromise suggestion if needed - maybe 2 weeks.

Experiences? Opinions? This would be my 2nd contract so I'm not sure how typical 1 week's notice is, but for some reason I've got it lodged in my head that 1 week is fairly typical?

[TheFaQQer]

The vast majority of contracts I've seen have no right for the contractor to terminate early.

Having a one week notice period gives the impression that you are always going to be looking for something else to jump to - if I was the client I'd be wary about having a contractor like that around because they could easily jump and leave them in the lurch.

[ForBajor]

The vast majority of contracts I've seen have no right for the contractor to terminate early.

Having a one week notice period gives the impression that you are always going to be looking for something else to jump to - if I was the client I'd be wary about having a contractor like that around because they could easily jump and leave them in the lurch.

Agreed, it could send the wrong signal if I negotiate down. My current contract has a one week notice period and that was just the default (public sector), so I guess I'm used to having that flexibility.

In reality, in the worst case scenario where you had to get out but with either no right at all or a long notice period, how would you do it? Not that I think this gig is going to turn sour but how would that scenario work?

[TheFaQQer]

Agreed, it could send the wrong signal if I negotiate down. My current contract has a one week notice period and that was just the default (public sector), so I guess I'm used to having that flexibility.

In reality, in the worst case scenario where you had to get out but with either no right at all or a long notice period, how would you do it? Not that I think this gig is going to turn sour but how would that scenario work?

Negotiate with the client and see if I could get them to terminate the contract. Or find a substitute and get them to take over the contract instead. Or find a substitute and rely on the client rejecting them and then terminating the contract. Or just stick it out.

The only time I've given notice it was a one week notice that I'd negotiated down from a month The contract was a one month extension at the end of the year, and once it got down to only having a four week contract, I said that it was ridiculous to have a 28 day notice period so could they cut it. I didn't intend to leave, but with two weeks to go I handed in my notice and moved on.

[northernladuk]

If 1 week was typical contractors would be jumping ship left right and centre so they wouldn't offer a week so it wouldn't be typical... If you get the drift.

[MyUserName]

You can leave whenever you want and offer a substitute (assuming you have that clause?).

[psychocandy]

Some clients just wont offer a notice period at all. My current one included.

But I also worked at a gig where the manager knew the rate was crap, and knew contractors were going to bail because it was one week notice and he was ok with this.

Probably wouldnt have taken the gig without the flexibility. But all parties knew the deal. In the end though, I didnt invoke and it worked out that I just didnt renew.

[expat]

I have always wondered how it would play in practice if you invited the client to terminate, and emphasised strongly to him or her that it would really be better all round than the alternative.

Do you reckon they would see it your way?

[SlipTheJab]

I have always wondered how it would play in practice if you invited the client to terminate, and emphasised strongly to him or her that it would really be better all round than the alternative.

Do you reckon they would see it your way?

Paul Lambert (ex Villa manager) did the same on a number of occasions over the last lamentable 12 months, didn't resign as that would have meant no massive payoff for failure ... a pity IT contracts don't work in the same way!

[Batcher]

If I was the client I would be wary of someone trying to reduce the notice period. I always go into any new client with a positive outlook so having a long or no notice period doesn't worry me.

If you are not happy once you have started then, as has been pointed out above, either place a substitute or discuss with the client so you can leave when they can replace you. Worse case scenario is you give them 1 months notice then be prepared to hit the bench or stick it out and keep billing for the 6 months then move on. How hard can it be?