Weird contract situation

[Skag]

I am about to sign with a big global company for a "3-month" contract. Now it's in quotes because the contract is actually a 2-month contract, with a reference to "38 billable man days" exclusively.
The agent said that this has been done because this contract needs to catch up with the client's billing cycle which is quarterly. For example if they renew in May, which is the contract due date, the next one will be until June, and thereafter, if they renew again, it will be the standard 3 or 6 months. He said that this is how this client works.

Sounds a bit off to me, has anyone heard of that before? I haven't.

[Old Greg]

I am about to sign with a big global company for a "3-month" contract. Now it's in quotes because the contract is actually a 2-month contract, with a reference to "38 billable man days" exclusively.
The agent said that this has been done because this contract needs to catch up with the client's billing cycle which is quarterly. For example if they renew in May, which is the contract due date, the next one will be until June, and thereafter, if they renew again, it will be the standard 3 or 6 months. He said that this is how this client works.

Sounds a bit off to me, has anyone heard of that before? I haven't.

Not heard of this before. Sounds like they have internal approval for 38 days only. I would probably take it and accept the possibility of no further work.

[Skag]

Not heard of this before. Sounds like they have internal approval for 38 days only. I would probably take it and accept the possibility of no further work.

Yeah that's what I thought too. They mentioned something about budget leftover from last year, that ties back with the 38 days etc...not sure but they'll have to make it more explicit.

[Old Greg]

Yeah that's what I thought too. They mentioned something about budget leftover from last year, that ties back with the 38 days etc...not sure but they'll have to make it more explicit.

What are your current alternatives?

[Skag]

What are your current alternatives?

erm...

[WTFH]

Worked for once crowd who did that. You were taken on for 3 months, then your first extension was for an odd number of weeks to bring you into line with the other members of the project team.

[Skag]

Worked for once crowd who did that. You were taken on for 3 months, then your first extension was for an odd number of weeks to bring you into line with the other members of the project team.

Yeah that's what they mentioned, "odd number of weeks", which I perceived as in "weird number of weeks" and I just skipped it

Good to know though that someone else's been there.

[simes]

Take the gig.

And then stay on the ball with the agent and client for appropriately timed renewals. (While at the same time ensuring your up to date CV is also available in case of client wobbles)

Sounds fine.

[northernladuk]

Worked for once crowd who did that. You were taken on for 3 months, then your first extension was for an odd number of weeks to bring you into line with the other members of the project team.

Yup. Had this myself as well.

[Skag]

Thank y'all that's reassuring!