End of contract, how to play this

[actuaryir35]

Hi,

First post (and possibly last since I am leaving contracting), so go easy.

6 month contract started July 2021, extended January 2022, ends July 2022

End client doesn't extend contracts beyond 12 months as a policy.

This is the only day rate contract I've ever seen in my industry and expertise, so no prospect of another opportunity elsewhere.

End client have offered a permanent position. I'm only doing what I'm doing now because of the money. It's boring work and is way beneath me. So I have no intention of accepting.

I have a formal job offer from their competitor, slightly better money, but actually what I want to be doing and offers a clear progression path upwards. I intend to accept, and have communicated a start date of 1 August.

If I tell my current end client that I don't intend to accept their offer, I'm worried that they will terminate my contract (only one week notice required). And it's way more money than the perm position so I'm keen to keep it until the end. Is this a credible risk, or am I being dramatic? Should I stall their offer as much as possible?

Thanks
A

[Robinho]

Why not just tell them, and if they terminate your contract go on holiday for a month, that's what i'd do.

[NotAllThere]

Why not just tell them, and if they terminate your contract go on holiday for a month, that's what i'd do.

This. Think long term, not short term.

[eek]

Why not just tell them, and if they terminate your contract go on holiday for a month, that's what i'd do.

Doesn't work if you need the money. In which case all the OP can do is let the contract run down until the first client waves you good bye or service notice and asks you to leave slightly earlier.

[hobnob]

If I tell my current end client that I don't intend to accept their offer, I'm worried that they will terminate my contract (only one week notice required). And it's way more money than the perm position so I'm keen to keep it until the end. Is this a credible risk, or am I being dramatic? Should I stall their offer as much as possible?

It's possible that they'd give you notice, but I think that's unlikely - they're obviously happy with your work (given the previous extension and the job offer), so it would make sense to keep you around. I've turned down extensions at previous clients when I was ready to move on, and there were no hard feelings. I'd advise you to be upfront about your decision rather than stringing them along; that will give them a chance to start recruiting someone else for the role, and they might want you to do a handover.

[northernladuk]

Why not just tell them, and if they terminate your contract go on holiday for a month, that's what i'd do.

Absolutely this. You've made some good money from them. You can't have the big money and avoid all the risk else everyone would be doing it.

Are you outside or inside? Sticky situation being outside but offer to go perm in the role you are in.
Also, not to scare you, but they can terminate you immediately. Notice periods mean nothing in contracting. Thankfully very few clients either pick up on this or actually use it but they could give you notice and then tell you there is no work. The notice period carrys on but you do not work and don't get paid. As I say clients rarely pull this and it's pretty rare they'll terminate before the end of the contract if they are looking for a perm. They've got to find the person, hand over and all that marlarky which can take quite a while.

But whatever happens, that's contracting. The rough with the smooth. Tell them, work as long as you can, enjoy the down time and see if the new client will bring the start date forward.

[actuaryir35]

Thanks for the advice.
Telling them seems the right thing to do.
Immediate termination would really screw them over, given I'm key man on quite a few projects.
I'm also sure they are professional enough to not play sour grapes, they're a big company and I presume they wouldn't want to annoy the agency too.

[TheDude]

Hi,

First post (and possibly last since I am leaving contracting), so go easy.

6 month contract started July 2021, extended January 2022, ends July 2022

End client doesn't extend contracts beyond 12 months as a policy.

This is the only day rate contract I've ever seen in my industry and expertise, so no prospect of another opportunity elsewhere.

End client have offered a permanent position. I'm only doing what I'm doing now because of the money. It's boring work and is way beneath me. So I have no intention of accepting.

I have a formal job offer from their competitor, slightly better money, but actually what I want to be doing and offers a clear progression path upwards. I intend to accept, and have communicated a start date of 1 August.

If I tell my current end client that I don't intend to accept their offer, I'm worried that they will terminate my contract (only one week notice required). And it's way more money than the perm position so I'm keen to keep it until the end. Is this a credible risk, or am I being dramatic? Should I stall their offer as much as possible?

Thanks
A

I have turned down every offer to go perm in my contracting career and there have been no repercussions.