Unethical or normal

[TheFaQQer]

I've just gone through a similar thing, as a not-long contractor.

Current client wants me to stay (after 3 1/2 months) but "due to budget constraints" they wouldn't offer more than a three week extension in January (I'm on holiday for the first week of the month). I'm not too fussed one way or the other about staying, so although hints had been made, I just smiled and nodded (almost as someone here advised).

Eventually we agreed two months with an increase, since they needed to keep me around more than I needed to stay - as lukemg says, you've got to be prepared to leave at the end. As Cojak says in this thread, at the end of a contract, you don't need to provide an excuse not to extend.

Faqqer

[Adamski]

Agreed you don't NEED to provide an excuse at the end, but if you p*ss the client off, this MAY affect possible references wouldn't they?

[Cowboy Bob]

Agreed you don't NEED to provide an excuse at the end, but if you p*ss the client off, this MAY affect possible references wouldn't they?

Maybe, but it depends on what sector you're in. Personally, I've never been asked to supply references in order to get a gig. And if I did, I'd just get them from somewhere else.

[Ardesco]

Agreed you don't NEED to provide an excuse at the end, but if you p*ss the client off, this MAY affect possible references wouldn't they?

Most companies don't like handing out references anyway, the best way to get a reference is to get buddy with the manager above you, buy him a few drinks down the pub and get him to vouch for you personally.

[Adamski]

or HER!!! ;-)

[Ardesco]

Nah, women can be very bitchy. Go for the male manager, you are more likely to get told where you stand.

[cojak]

Agreed you don't NEED to provide an excuse at the end, but if you p*ss the client off, this MAY affect possible references wouldn't they?

I repeat Cowboy Bob - business is business. A client may indeed be irritated but anything more is coersion and bullying.

[DeadKenny]

Or just renegotiate the contract and ask for more money

Indeed. If they still want you they'll pay up, otherwise move on. There's no obligation, so nothing unethical.

[wendigo100]

Indeed. If they still want you they'll pay up, otherwise move on. There's no obligation, so nothing unethical.

Absolutely true, but it is always best to try and leave on as good terms as possible. What goes round comes round.

[TheFaQQer]

What goes round comes round.

It's a pretty small world out there, so you might want to make sure that you don't burn your bridges.

When I left my permie job, I made sure that if anyone wanted a reference (and they were mainly agencies rather than the end client) spoke to either my immediate boss (who I got on well with) or the contractors I worked with who they knew.

Most companies don't like handing out references anyway

When I left Oracle some years back, the only reference that they would give was to say when I started, when I left, and that there was no record of any disciplinary action on my record. Large companies are getting wary of giving some references, in case they get sued for giving a good reference for someone who turns out to be cack.