What is the most effective excuse to immediately terminate a contract?

[SimonMac]

However, I have anxiety issues, which recently resurfaced again a week and a half into a new, very stressful contract and which is making concentrating and my ability to do my job effectively almost impossible on a day to day basis.

the right answer is to be honest, explain the above and very few clients will object, the agent may get pissy but unless you are moving into another job on Monday and the reasons are genuine, tell the truth

[TheDude]

Concern for you health is more than enough reason to terminate a contract.

I hope you feel better soon.

[d000hg]

I know many on here will berate me for considering a very unethical, non business approach to terminating a contract. However, I have anxiety issues, which recently resurfaced again a week and a half into a new, very stressful contract and which is making concentrating and my ability to do my job effectively almost impossible on a day to day basis.

With the contract being 1 week's notice the thought of working that week is even more anxiety inducing

Do you have a MOO clause - i.e. are you obliged to work your notice or can you give notice and not come in?

So early into the contract I would suggest they would rather you leave now than waste a week and it's reasonable to simply tell them "guys, this isn't going to work".
You do not need to lie either way though - you may tell them you are ill, which is the case. Leave it at that (you're a contractor not an employee) or let them know you've suffered a recurrence of a previous illness and sadly won't be able to work. Your choice if you tell them it's mental health but if you do, they'll probably be keen to be seen to do the right thing. Whatever you feel easiest and however much explanation you wish to give.

You're ill and you can't do the job and it's exacerbating your illness. I don't think they can have much to say really, certainly no reason to try and "get out" of it. Best of luck getting better and moving on to something less stressful.

[KpMrJ]

I know many on here will berate me for considering a very unethical, non business approach to terminating a contract. However, I have anxiety issues, which recently resurfaced again a week and a half into a new, very stressful contract and which is making concentrating and my ability to do my job effectively almost impossible on a day to day basis.

With the contract being 1 week's notice the thought of working that week is even more anxiety inducing, particularly as there are a number of workshops and presentations that I am due to be giving. What immediate excuse could I realistically give for not working tomorrow, for terminating, for not only giving notice, but for also not working my notice? I really do not wish to go into detail about my personal health issues and would rather avoid having to have an awkward conversation with the client or agency, particularly as the client had been very willing to wait for a number of weeks for me to start. I do feel like I would be letting them down but am unable to continue. If

Any advise would be welcome

Have been through this myself most recently.
Having started a contract Q3 last year, straight into a fairly toxic environment with stressful delivery timescales & sh!tty end client ( 10yrs ago would have relished enjoyed the challenge ).....
Very quickly felt anxiety levels raising, and was unable to focus or keep it together most days.


Took the agent to one side on a call and explained the situation, that my mental health was suffering badly. We then had an open and honest conversation with budget sponsor and agreed an exit strategy.

Suffered with PTSD previously, and thought I had my associated anxiety & depression under control, and was in a better place. Quickly found out that it was not the case.......
Taken 5+ months out, sought out some help and support. Feeling my more 'balanced' these days. Researched & using more homeopathic ( legal ! ) remedies, which help a lot.

I've always been a believer that honesty is the best policy. With most corporations focusing on 'wellness', particularly mental health. You'll be surprised at the level of understanding and support you'll get.



I wish you well, take some time out and refresh the ol'grey matter.

[northernladuk]

Do you have a MOO clause - i.e. are you obliged to work your notice or can you give notice and not come in?.

There isn't such a thing. You have a contract to deliver a certain piece of work and while the client is offering work you are obliged to do that work. MoO or lack thereof is about offering extra work after, or during the agreed piece of work. If there is an expectation that the client has to pay you or find you new work after your contract regardless of what you do shows MoO. It seems unfair but it's a client supplier relationship so it's not equal. If they offer you work you have to do it, if they don't offer you work you don't get paid. This is more T&M and not MoO.

[PerfectStorm]

I've always been a believer that honesty is the best policy. With most corporations focusing on 'wellness', particularly mental health. You'll be surprised at the level of understanding and support you'll get.

This. I know some people who've used it very effectively.

[d000hg]

There isn't such a thing. You have a contract to deliver a certain piece of work and while the client is offering work you are obliged to do that work.

I didn't realise you'd seen their contract. Did they send it via DM for you to review?

[d000hg]

I've always been a believer that honesty is the best policy. With most corporations focusing on 'wellness', particularly mental health. You'll be surprised at the level of understanding and support you'll get.

Definitely. Worst case you tell them and they are dicks and then you just walk anyway but it seems very unlikely you'd get more than a frustrated response and more likely their sympathy.

[northernladuk]

I didn't realise you'd seen their contract. Did they send it via DM for you to review?

No but do I need to? Contracts are 99% the same and the clauses to keep a contract outside are usually exactly the same. Even inside ones have the same clauses. There has never been a clause allowing this and it wouldn't pass an IR35 check so yes, if you want to be anal about it, I haven't seen his contract but knowing what we know about contracts it's highly unlikely to have this type of clause.
Quite happy to hear your experiences and be proven wrong.

[mattster]

I've always been a believer that honesty is the best policy. With most corporations focusing on 'wellness', particularly mental health. You'll be surprised at the level of understanding and support you'll get.

This is unequivocally the best answer. Explain the situation to them exactly as you have done here. If you don't feel up to doing this in person/on the phone, then put it in an email. If you feel embarassed about telling them this, don't be. This course of action will result in the least push back from them, IMO, and also make you feel much better about the situation - having told the simple truth, you won't have to worry about them chasing you up, and either avoiding contact/making up further embellishments to whatever story you originally told them. And if you haven't already, make sure you get the medical attention you need - don't be embarassed about this if it is putting you, doctors deal with these problems multiple times a day and you would be amazed how many others around are suffering or have suffered similar. I speak from personal experience here as someone who waited far too long to do the same after having what turned out to be a panic attack in a meeting some 20 years ago.