How do you handle disgruntled permanent staff and management

[Illustrious]

To be fair, she's never steered me wrong before now and what's more she's coming to the realisation that she's not going to make money out of them if they burn through contractors and no one wants to go to work there full time.

I'm fortunate that I think I have something already lined up to start in two weeks I think. Someone I've worked for previously has asked for me back and the agent who handled that job called me today.

At least I know there aren't any tools at that place

[blackeye]

To be fair, she's never steered me wrong before now and what's more she's coming to the realisation that she's not going to make money out of them if they burn through contractors and no one wants to go to work there full time.

I'm fortunate that I think I have something already lined up to start in two weeks I think. Someone I've worked for previously has asked for me back and the agent who handled that job called me today.

At least I know there aren't any tools at that place

Sounds like the agent was just trying to comfort you and control the situation. Agree with the previous poster - the agents client is the company you work for, not you.

Hope you're getting your CV out there, because it's miles easier getting something new while you're still working.

[Bee]

Sounds like the agent was just trying to comfort you and control the situation. Agree with the previous poster - the agents client is the company you work for, not you.

Hope you're getting your CV out there, because it's miles easier getting something new while you're still working.

^^
This.

[northernladuk]

I was brought in to work on a very specific area of their software, and I've today been "retasked" to do something else. Not really an issue.

Yes it is. You are being Directed and Controlled by the client so your IR35 defence just took a major hit.

She just reassured me that they'd have to give me 7 days pay to terminate

The only assurance you should be taking is what is written in your contract. I'll bet they don't have to pay you 7 days at all. They could terminate you for poor performance which you can't contest or they will give you 7 days notice and ask you not to come in. A clause saying no work without a signed time sheet will mean it's effective termination. Her legal team fighting your case? Yerr right. Remember they are only taking a small(ish) percentage which will in no way make it worth getting a legal team in.

She can also only place you if she has openings, which is going to be very uncommon. Chances of you dovetailing exactly the same gig from the same agent is pretty unlikely and you'll have to interview again.

She's just BS'ing you just to stop you complaining to her and because you are laping it up. I do think you need to wise up to agents a little more.

Don't trust an agent. Check your contract.

[Illustrious]

Normally I wouldn't but I've done work with this agent before and I've never been disappointed . That said, I'd already taken a look at the contract.

First week they can terminate without cause. After that they can terminate forthwith if they can show I'm incompetent or"technically unsuitable". Our the contract can be terminated by them with 7 days notice. Apparently I have to give them 28 days notice..I thought it was 7 days each way.

I think if I handed my notice in they'd just tell me not to come back anyway.

It's a truly crappy situation to be in, especially when you're far from home.

[LondonManc]

Well I think Lance might have hit the nail on the head when he suggested that I was being set up to fail.

1 I was brought in to work on a very specific area of their software, and I've today been "retasked" to do something else. Not really an issue since I pride myself on being able to adapt fairly quickly but today I was given a task in a project I've never laid eyes on before; no documentation to review and the manager and senior dev flaunted out for the afternoon so I had no one to refer to. I was given an hour to get the job done. Needless to say I took a little longer than an hour.

I expect the inevitable tomorrow but on the plus side I spoke to the agent, told her the entire story including the abusive nature of the manager and the generally hostile environment. 2 She wasn't surprised at the sabotage, a little about the abuse but just said you can never really tell with some people.

3 She just reassured me that they'd have to give me 7 days pay to terminate and that she'd get me placed elsewhere since there were other opportunities coming in. I asked her specifically about their right to terminate if they claim I'm incompetent but she assured me the legal team there would argue my case and they've got references for me to state I am good at what I do; the company would have a hard time making that case.

4 Weirdly though the same agent has been trying to fill a permanent role for the last 18 months at the company with no takers.....apparently the permie wages are very poor!

1 - You'll have to treat this contract as inside IR35 by the sound of it, if you haven't already.

2 - So, she didn't warn you that it was a tricky client in advance? How nice

3 - Her job is to protect herco's revenue stream, not yours. Ultimately, client has the money, she wants it and so do you. If you don't get the seven days out of it, don't be surprised. She will get hers.

4 - So, they'd be jealous of a brand new Ford Focus by the sound of it. Doesn't matter what car you turn up in depending upon who hires you. I've turned up at gigs where only the CEO had a better car but I was had a previous good working relationship with the CIO and had fixed a major pain point within the first week. If they hate you but they aren't good enough to go and get a better job elsewhere, they'll resent everything you've got that's better than them. They could even be jealous of you going out and buying sandwiches for lunch when they have to get up early to make theirs.

[NigelJK]

The 'notice period' either way is irrelevant. You can be unavailable for as long as you want, just as they can tell you you're not required.

References are legality agencies are required to take up on ALL of their clients behalf. You can present those who most represent the role you are applying for, as they are only to show due diligence that you are competent to do that role.

Any 'bad mouthing' by 3rd parties on any new contract can be dealt with as Tort (bedtime reading).

[missinggreenfields]

She just reassured me that they'd have to give me 7 days pay to terminate and that she'd get me placed elsewhere since there were other opportunities coming in. I asked her specifically about their right to terminate if they claim I'm incompetent but she assured me the legal team there would argue my case and they've got references for me to state I am good at what I do; the company would have a hard time making that case.

She's lying to you - it's not worth the paper it's written on.

[missinggreenfields]

References are legality agencies are required to take up on ALL of their clients behalf

Citation needed. I've provided one client (maybe two) with references in the past 10 years, so either they don't need to take up references for ALL their clients or they acted illegally.

[LondonManc]

Citation needed. I've provided one client (maybe two) with references in the past 10 years, so either they don't need to take up references for ALL their clients or they acted illegally.

It's all about risk mitigation. If you go through an MSC, they take the risk on a client's behalf. It's how much due diligence a client wants to take before letting you on site that is the key - essentially, it's down to someone to prove that they have proved beyond reasonable doubt that you'll be eligible to work there and are through a legitimate payment vehicle (umbrella, ltd co, etc.)

For contractors, it's different to perms and they have certain rights and there are repercussions for bad references around the dismissal circumstances.