client asking me not to work, even though I have a signed contract

[psychocandy]

that's a very good point, I'm working for consultancy A, consultancy B came knocking the other day asking if I was available, unfortunately it fell over before it got to the point where they asked me what I was currently doing but I wonder what I would have said. Probably 5 days notice to give time to handover here was my thinking, but then that wouldn't sound right. If consultancy B gets the hint i'm working with Consultancy A and mid-project they won't want to step on their toes and 'steal' someone from them mid-project. So i agree, it's better to be totally free on the bench ready to start than being in 'on and off' mode.

Are you mad? So they call you in when it suits them, mess you about yet you wont do it to them?

Out of interest what sort of notice do you get when they decide they dont want you in for a few weeks?

Im sorry I'd be looking for something else, then handing in my notice to go to new gig and then saying sorry im not available if needs be.

[northernladuk]

Im sorry I'd be looking for something else, then handing in my notice to go to new gig and then saying sorry im not available if needs be.

Erm.... :

[LondonManc]

Erm.... :

In this particular instance, I'd take the same option. If someone's messing me around like that, stuff bridges being burned. If a client wants me at their beck and call and is only offering four days a month, they're back of the queue in my priorities. That said, I'd potentially not serve notice on them until I was happy and settled in the new gig.

[fonejacker]

Are you mad? So they call you in when it suits them, mess you about yet you wont do it to them?

Out of interest what sort of notice do you get when they decide they dont want you in for a few weeks?

Im sorry I'd be looking for something else, then handing in my notice to go to new gig and then saying sorry im not available if needs be.

I get no notice, it's 'stand down tomorrow' type stuff. oh I would leave them at the drop of a hat but when the other consultancy asks me my situation i'd have to be imaginative is all i'm saying to make it sound like I've finished rather than saying i'm leaving another consultancy without finishing a project. Probably best to just say i'm just on bench and need a week before I start for some reason (on holiday? etc)

[fonejacker]

In this particular instance, I'd take the same option. If someone's messing me around like that, stuff bridges being burned. If a client wants me at their beck and call and is only offering four days a month, they're back of the queue in my priorities. That said, I'd potentially not serve notice on them until I was happy and settled in the new gig.

yeah it's the ultimate mess around, the 4 days was just last month, was fairly solid first couple of months before that. the problem is they suddenly started doing this stand down stuff mid-way through a solid contract and before I knew it a month is gone, it takes time to find another gig so by the time another gig is found this stuff ends anyway. If the end client was solid about their days then the consultancy could give me other work potentially, at one point they were going to send me somewhere else for a week but then they changed their minds here and needed me back. what a joke.

[LondonManc]

yeah it's the ultimate mess around, the 4 days was just last month, was fairly solid first couple of months before that. the problem is they suddenly started doing this stand down stuff mid-way through a solid contract and before I knew it a month is gone, it takes time to find another gig so by the time another gig is found this stuff ends anyway. If the end client was solid about their days then the consultancy could give me other work potentially, at one point they were going to send me somewhere else for a week but then they changed their minds here and needed me back. what a joke.

If that's not in your statement of work/schedule, be careful about IR35 - that said, the way you're being messed around suggests you're well outside of it on all other counts. Seriously, find another gig and cross the bridge of the current client's engagement once you've fired off your first invoice to the new client. If you fancy a couple of weekend's overtime, go for it.

[FrontEnder]

I get no notice, it's 'stand down tomorrow' type stuff. oh I would leave them at the drop of a hat but when the other consultancy asks me my situation i'd have to be imaginative is all i'm saying to make it sound like I've finished rather than saying i'm leaving another consultancy without finishing a project. Probably best to just say i'm just on bench and need a week before I start for some reason (on holiday? etc)

I think you're overthinking this part. I've never been asked why I'm leaving/left current assignment. If they do, something like "I had completed all work assigned to me and there was no further requirement for my skills" covers it.

Just say you're available immediately, subject to contract checks, which should be standard when you're on the bench.

Worst case scenario here is that new client want you in tomorrow and so do old client. In which case you can probably stretch a day or do with a round of contract reviews and worst comes to worst, you say to current client you're unavailable.

[fonejacker]

If that's not in your statement of work/schedule, be careful about IR35 - that said, the way you're being messed around suggests you're well outside of it on all other counts. Seriously, find another gig and cross the bridge of the current client's engagement once you've fired off your first invoice to the new client. If you fancy a couple of weekend's overtime, go for it.

contract is just with consultancy to work 'anywhere'. it's not really worth anything. anyway....I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread as much but I just wanted to point out that in fantasy land everyone is getting juicy long term contracts without breaks and everyone wants to be a contractor (yay!) but in reality there are people out there are getting messed around (you see a lot of posts on CUK about it too) in 10+ years contracting there are bound to be some hiccups/things that don't go to plan. Actually my theory is the higher your rate the more you get messed around as the client can't afford you full time and questions your 'extortionate' fee

[LondonManc]

contract is just with consultancy to work 'anywhere'. it's not really worth anything. anyway....I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread as much but I just wanted to point out that in fantasy land everyone is getting juicy long term contracts without breaks and everyone wants to be a contractor (yay!) but in reality there are people out there are getting messed around (you see a lot of posts on CUK about it too) in 10+ years contracting there are bound to be some hiccups/things that don't go to plan. Actually my theory is the higher your rate the more you get messed around as the client can't afford you full time and questions your 'extortionate' fee

Same goes for fresh contractors who happily accept £350/day while the agent trousers the other £250 from the £600/day budget. Client then wonders why their £500/day superkid is pretty average.

[VillageContractor]

contract is just with consultancy to work 'anywhere'. it's not really worth anything. anyway....I didn't want to hijack the OP's thread as much but I just wanted to point out that in fantasy land everyone is getting juicy long term contracts without breaks and everyone wants to be a contractor (yay!) but in reality there are people out there are getting messed around (you see a lot of posts on CUK about it too) in 10+ years contracting there are bound to be some hiccups/things that don't go to plan. Actually my theory is the higher your rate the more you get messed around as the client can't afford you full time and questions your 'extortionate' fee

Sounds like you're just a bum on seat. For only 4 days a month you should either leave or get a permie gig.

Work is work, but 4 days is not a lot.

We don't live in fantasy land - we just don't accept this. We find a new role and give our client notice