Client no notice period

[JIG1]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice - I've tried searching the forums, there are similar questions, but nothing which quite covers the below.

The background is that I signed a 6 month contract with a new client, neither party has a termination clause. The client have brought in another contractor doing a similar role to myself, but on a significantly lower rate (c40%). I have a feeling, given the large rate difference, that the client may look to replace me.

1. Given no notice period - if this was to happen, do they have to honour the original term?
2. If not, how are they able to get out?
3. Any advice on how to manage the above (assuming my hunch is correct)?

Thanks.

[NotAllThere]

They don't give you notice, they just don't allocate any work to you and tell you not to bother coming
in.

Keep your head down, keep working, keep billing.

[JIG1]

They don't give you notice, they just don't allocate any work to you and tell you not to bother coming
in.

Keep your head down, keep working, keep billing.

Thanks - I was wondering if that may be the case. Although not sure in my case if that is relevant, as I've been brought in to manage the programme, there no specific work as such to allocate me as i'm the one doing the allocating?

[northernladuk]

Thanks - I was wondering if that may be the case. Although not sure in my case if that is relevant, as I've been brought in to manage the programme, there no specific work as such to allocate me as i'm the one doing the allocating?

You are doing work allocating work. They just ask you to stop doing that so it's very relevant. They could just say don't come in tomorrow and that's it.

It's likely there will be a clause stating that you only get paid upon receipt of a signed timesheet. You don't work for whatever reason, they dont sign the timesheet and you don't get paid. They could let the contract carry on until the end but you don't get paid another penny. Effectively terminating you on the spot.

Did you know there was no termination clause in your contract when you signed it.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Make sure you’re better than the other contractor.

[JIG1]

You are doing work allocating work. They just ask you to stop doing that so it's very relevant. They could just say don't come in tomorrow and that's it.

It's likely there will be a clause stating that you only get paid upon receipt of a signed timesheet. You don't work for whatever reason, they dont sign the timesheet and you don't get paid. They could let the contract carry on until the end but you don't get paid another penny. Effectively terminating you on the spot.

Did you know there was no termination clause in your contract when you signed it.

Thanks - good point, I didn’t see it like that. Yeah I knew there wasn’t a clause to terminate in there. Guess I assumed it gave me a little more security as it’s a fairly small setup, with a trigger happy CEO.

Will just get my head down and stop worrying about something which may/may not happen.

[simes]

And make sure your CV and contacts are up to date so you can leap with alacrity upon termination - if it were to happen.

Good luck.

[garethevans1986]

And always have a termination clause for both sides...

[Lance]

The client have brought in another contractor doing a similar role to myself, but on a significantly lower rate (c40%).

how do you know this?
Is the client paying 40% less for him than you? That's the important one.
Or is he getting 40% less than you? That's less important and may just be the agency is making more money.

[WordIsBond]

Make sure you’re better than the other contractor.

Exactly, that's really the main thing. With two additional things.

1. Visibly better. Doesn't help if you are better and no one knows.
2. 41+% better. Doesn't help to be marginally better if he's a lot cheaper.

AND....

If there's things he's good at and things he's not good at, allocate him as much as possible the tasks he's good at, and let them know. 'I've found out his strengths, and I'm using him to get A, B, and C done at a cheaper cost. I don't think he can do D, E, and F, but that's ok, we're getting full benefit out of his lower rate with the jobs I've allocated to him.'

Help him succeed and take credit for helping him. They don't want prima donna contractors undercutting each other, they want their projects getting done efficiently in both time and money. Make it happen, be a hero, and don't be bragging about it all the time but make sure they hear once or twice how you are making it work.