Advice Needed Please be Gentle with Me

[worrieduk]

What is the notice period? I wouldn't use the word "guaranteed" if it's outside of IR35!

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Noted. I think what I wanted to say what work only planned for 12 months all things going well. Notice period is one week.

[psychocandy]

Do not tell the agency until you are about 6-7 months into the pregnancy.

They seem nice people to you now so do the client but trust me on this I have well over 20 years IT contracting experience. If you tell them soon they will replace you fast. Do a good job for 6-7 months then tell the client first see what they say BEFORE telling the agency otherwise the agency will find your replacement & try to talk the client into accepting them to preserve their income stream. I have seen this happen several times as well over the years. The agency will seem nice to you now as your about to be an easy income generator for what they expect is a long time! Their attitude will change drastically when you have to tell them. Forget loyalty its a one way street. Do the 6-7 months to get some money your going to need for your new family then tell them & they will still most likely let you work up to month 8 if you want to.

Best case scenario is if the end client likes you they will invite you back in the future if you do a good job and they like you as a person. The agency is quite literally the last priority you want to tell. Once you have been recruited just taking a cut from your earnings & will have little to any day to day contact so do not deserve to be told until the last possible moment around the 6-7 months mark gives them time to find a replacement.

Very good post this....

[psychocandy]

Flippin heck OP even NLUK has been nice on this thread!

Some good advice here but bottom line is look after number 1....

[psychocandy]

So, we're not quite so bad...tbh, we tend only to savage the stupid, lazy and people trying to pull a fast one.

No matter how much they whine when you quit, they'll be your best friend like a shot if they can make money from you again.

So am I all three? ;-)

Now, OP about claiming JSA when you're on maternity leave.....

[WordIsBond]

The client will want a seamless handover. So they want enough time to find and clear someone before you leave. If you allow two weeks for recruitment and two months for compliance checks you should tell them 3 months before you plan to disappear. That gives a couple weeks for you to bring your replacement up to speed.

If you have a substitute to offer you could shorten that by a couple weeks, since they may not have to do any recruitment.

It's possible they'd let you go but if you have been doing a good job for them they won't. They will want you to stay until the new person is on board.

Tell them you wanted to give them plenty of advance notice.

Also, you should tell them you will still be willing to take phone calls after you've left to answer questions, if needed. You are a professional and want their project to succeed even if you have to step back from it.

Remember, you are trying to build a business. A business responds to the needs of its customers or it dies. So put yourself in their shoes and do your best to make this as good for them as you can. They should remember that.

I wouldn't bother with telling the agent until when your contract says you have to. They may learn from your client and that's fine. If they contact you, you can just say you will be giving them notice in accordance with your contract.

[worrieduk]

So am I all three? ;-)

Now, OP about claiming JSA when you're on maternity leave.....

I don't plan to do that. I should qualify for at least maternity allowance.

[worrieduk]

The client will want a seamless handover. So they want enough time to find and clear someone before you leave. If you allow two weeks for recruitment and two months for compliance checks you should tell them 3 months before you plan to disappear. That gives a couple weeks for you to bring your replacement up to speed.

If you have a substitute to offer you could shorten that by a couple weeks, since they may not have to do any recruitment.

It's possible they'd let you go but if you have been doing a good job for them they won't. They will want you to stay until the new person is on board.

Tell them you wanted to give them plenty of advance notice.

Also, you should tell them you will still be willing to take phone calls after you've left to answer questions, if needed. You are a professional and want their project to succeed even if you have to step back from it.

Remember, you are trying to build a business. A business responds to the needs of its customers or it dies. So put yourself in their shoes and do your best to make this as good for them as you can. They should remember that.

I wouldn't bother with telling the agent until when your contract says you have to. They may learn from your client and that's fine. If they contact you, you can just say you will be giving them notice in accordance with your contract.

Thank you. I will consider your advice [emoji846]

[worrieduk]

Flippin heck OP even NLUK has been nice on this thread!

Some good advice here but bottom line is look after number 1....

I have been very lucky and glad for all the good response.

[WordIsBond]

Flippin heck OP even NLUK has been nice on this thread!

Just because he's nasty to you doesn't mean he is to everyone. You're special, you are.

Well, not that special.

[NotAllThere]

So am I all three? ;-)

You might think that. I couldn't possibly comment.