how long do you typically stay on a contract?

[SueEllen]

one guy (who was a developer and had written a lot of the systems) had been there 14 years.

That was a bit stupid of them....

[ensignia]

That was a bit stupid of them....

Them being the client or the developer?

[northernladuk]

Them being the client or the developer?

I'm guessing 'them' instead of 'him' answers the question. I don't think SE is young enough to be using them/they pronouns for people.

[Lance]

I'm guessing 'them' instead of 'him' answers the question. I don't think SE is young enough to be using them/they pronouns for people.

Meeeow!!!

[SueEllen]

I'm guessing 'them' instead of 'him' answers the question. I don't think SE is young enough to be using them/they pronouns for people.

I do use them/they for people but in this instance the developer was given the pronoun "he" so there was no need.

And yes it was clearly the client who was stupid.

[northernladuk]

And yes it was clearly the client who was stupid.

Without a doubt

[CoolCat]

sometimes you are genuinely just bringing something they need for a few days or weeks, to cover a gap in their knowledge, or maybe they just want a fresh set of eyes to look at an issue, or troubleshoot. sometime you are covering a peak in their work which they cannot cope with internally. sometimes its a longer term project that they want doing, but without a long term perm headcount. sometimes they simply cannot get anyone to take the job perm, and so it can be very long term as a contractor.

all are valid.

[jmo21]

but without a long term perm headcount. sometimes they simply cannot get anyone to take the job perm, and so it can be very long term as a contractor.

Current place, very well known public sector, can't hire people like me because of low salary bands. Some contractors been here 5 or 6 years.

[northernladuk]

Current place, very well known public sector, can't hire people like me because of low salary bands. Some disguised permies been here 5 or 6 years.

FTFY

[jmo21]

FTFY

well, quite