Notice period pay for the contract

[stit]

I am a first time contractor and was in a two months contract through umbrella company and just after a month into the contract, an entire set of contractors were asked to not to work for a week. We were hoping we would be called back to work after a week but then it was postponed indefinitely. It has been more than a month and we have not heard anything yet. Now, my contract end date is also over.

I was contracting through umbrella company and recruitment company was also involved in between.
Our accesses have not yet been revoked nor any of us have been asked to submit the laptop. Meanwhile, one contractor has been asked to joined back.

Most likely others will not be called back. My contract had one week notice period. Am I eligible for the notice period pay? How should I approach this situation please?

Many thanks,
Stit

[hobnob]

Check your contract, but I'm 99% sure that you'll only get paid for the days you've worked. I.e. you submit a timesheet, the client approves it, then the agency pays you. If you've already been paid for every day that you've worked, that's all you're getting.

You said that your access hasn't been revoked. Be careful about testing that! I.e. even if they haven't reclaimed the laptop, your contract is over and you no longer have a legitimate reason to connect to their network. So, you could get into trouble for that. Have you emailed the agency or client to ask about returning your equipment? Or can you go to the office in person to do that?

[TheDude]

Welcome to the exciting world of contracting!

[PCTNN]

As said already, you are only going to get paid for the days you are actually doing work.

Sorry to hear that but it sounds like the contract is going nowhere so I'd start looking around for other opportunities, if you haven't already started.

[ladymuck]

Notice periods mean nothing in most contracts. The client will say there is nothing for you to do and because, as mentioned above, you only get paid for the days you work you are effectively binned.

The lesson here is to start looking for another job as soon as the client says something like this again.

There are some exceptions - banks like to "furlough" contractors around Christmas and sometimes Easter (not furlough in the recent covid sense, it's essentially their inept way of cutting costs). In these roles you would expect to return on the date they specified and still meet all the deadlines but now with less time to do the work.

[SussexSeagull]

If I am getting my sums right the contract is basically over now anyway as you worked a month and haven't had any work for another month? If that is the case claim for what you worked if you haven't already and send the equipment back as you aren't under contract with them anymore.

You can't be paid for a notice period as you haven't worked one. There was no work available for the last month so you weren't required, which ironically would have been a great IR35 defence if it was outside.

[NotAllThere]

Speculation on someone's ethnicity or national identity is not appropriate. Posts deleted.

ConsultingTechArchitect - wind your neck in before it gets chopped off.