Cannot serve the full notice period

[WTFH]

Moral of story dont accept contracts with a months notice

Or, actual moral of the story, don't accept a contract to start sooner than your current one can finish without considering the implications.

Doesn't matter whether your notice period is 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months.


Is the new gig direct or through an agent? If through an agent, you do realise that they sometimes lie about start dates just to get you paying them commission sooner. Generally, if you are the best person for the job and it's a reasonably long contract, the client can be flexible on start dates.

[jbond007]

the example I saw, he wasn't sued but it was discussed between the client and the agent. He did burn all bridges with the client though.

As for burning bridges - if it's a smallish client fair enough. But if it is a big corporate - does it really stick for a long time ? The clientco's that I've spent time in, people move between departments every few years and there is an internal re-org every few years too. So if you've burned bridges with a particular manager, they may not even be in charge in a few years time. Same goes with agency - agents move about & it probably wouldn't matter in a few years time.

Also, in big companies (both agency & clientco) do the left hand really know what the right hand is doing ?

Speaking from experience, I left a clientco before my contract ended - though I did work my notice period, but the agent wasn't happy. Now, I'm back at the same clientco, through the same agency though different agent. LinkedIn profile shows the agent moved to a different agency

[Troll]

And did he get sued?

Nope - & it was a large financial institution - think they could only sue his company and then the default action would be to crash the company

the example I saw, he wasn't sued but it was discussed between the client and the agent. He did burn all bridges with the client though.

Definitely - it's surprising how small the contractor pool actually is - always running into the same people & reputations count

[The Spartan]

Or, actual moral of the story, don't accept a contract to start sooner than your current one can finish without considering the implications.

If only NW2PC was here to see this ^^

"Day 2 of current contract, day -4 of new contract"

[d000hg]

You are taking their viewpoint entirely, what about if you miss out on a 12 months contract then are benched for 3 months just to help clientco out in a project that doesn't matter as much as your family and well being.

What about if you skiving off for a month means they miss a deadline by a week which has penalty clauses?

[SimonMac]

If only NW2PC was here to see this ^^

"Day 2 of current contract, day -4 of new contract"

You are NLUK and I claim my 5 "have you asked your accountant"'s

[BrilloPad]

What about if you skiving off for a month means they miss a deadline by a week which has penalty clauses?

Suppose you go ill for a month?

[SueEllen]

Suppose you go ill for a month?

The issue with now going is the OP laid all their cards on the table so the agent will still try and steal* money from them. If the OP goes sick then s/he needs medical proof.

*It is stealing up until the agent takes legal action and the amount is agreed.

[LondonManc]

I agree with SE. Best not to speak to agent if you want to shorten any notice period. Speak nicely to the client.

Like someone else said, most clients dont want someone there who doesnt want to be there and will totally understand and not be a PITA about it.

I've only ever done it once. Gig was ending in 4 weeks anyway and I wanted to be gone in two for new gig. Spoke to client and explained - they were fine about it.

Of course, spoke to agent and they werent happy. Two weeks less cut for them. I advised them to speak to client who had agreed this and it all went away. :-)

Then again, its a bit off for new client to say two weeks or else as well. UNLESS of course, you've told them porkie pies about when you can start and are now letting them down.

In my experience, most want you to start asap but wont moan too much if it takes a week or two longer than they want.

Psychobannedy has made a good point here; talk to the client because you want to maintain a good working relationship with them. Ultimately you're providing them with your service (skills/experience/effort) and the agency is there as a barrier of convenience for you both. One option could be to offer to work extra unpaid hours for the two weeks to get everything done including any handover documentation.

Clients typically bin you off at a moment's notice when they don't want you back; do you want to work for current clientco again at some point?

Why are they being unreasonable holding you to notice you agreed in the contract? Why would they let a contractor go early when that will impact the project?

They'll happily let you go at a moment's notice, make up some BS excuse and make you look bad. The agent, if it isn't your fault, will just be bothered about maintaining their relationship with clientco and getting your timesheets and invoices in for as much as you can. Unfortunately most of the cards are with the clientco and we always seem to be the ones taking the financial hit (last minute contract offer pulls, zero effective notice if they want, furloughs, etc.)

Sure do it just happened here at clientco, first time I've ever seen it happen but it does make you more aware you can be gone at any time.

Yes, can be quite a shock the first time. First saw it in 2010. Got asked if I'd received x, y or z yet from someone else, checked inbox and other possible locations and confirmed I hadn't. Within an hour, the person who had failed to deliver was off site. Like you say, can be quite motivational.

[The Spartan]

You are NLUK and I claim my 5 "have you asked your accountant"'s

not quite SimonMac but I must admit NW2PC stories did make me laugh

Mudskipper can confirm I am indeed not the great one known as NLUK