How to play this?

[Meerkat]

Ok, so situation is that i am 3 months pregnant and coming to the end of my first 3 month contract with my present gig. They have said they want to keep me on and i've been chasing my agency to get the paperwork done asap. Ideally i'd want a 5 month renewal which would take me up to when i want to finish working. Agency has said that this place usually only does 3 month renewals, but he's had people in here for years on 3 month renewals. A 3 month renewal that doesn't roll on would leave me 6 months pregnant and looking for my next role. Not a good place. Needless to say i'd rather keep working as long as poss so i can take as long as poss off afterwards. If i get a 3 monther the risk averse side of me says to turn it down and look for a 6 month contract elsewhere - market is good in my area. However i could also broach the reason for wanting a 5 month to the agency with the argument of - get me a 5 month renewal and you still get your cut, anything less and i'm off. Also concerned that being preggers could be seen as a nuisance and they would just not renew. Worth trying it with the agency or would i be setting myself up for a fall? Worth saying that the client likes me and i've just delivered a project that four previous PM's failed to deliver.

[kaiser78]

Ok, so situation is that i am 3 months pregnant and coming to the end of my first 3 month contract with my present gig. They have said they want to keep me on and i've been chasing my agency to get the paperwork done asap. Ideally i'd want a 5 month renewal which would take me up to when i want to finish working. Agency has said that this place usually only does 3 month renewals, but he's had people in here for years on 3 month renewals. A 3 month renewal that doesn't roll on would leave me 6 months pregnant and looking for my next role. Not a good place. Needless to say i'd rather keep working as long as poss so i can take as long as poss off afterwards. If i get a 3 monther the risk averse side of me says to turn it down and look for a 6 month contract elsewhere - market is good in my area. However i could also broach the reason for wanting a 5 month to the agency with the argument of - get me a 5 month renewal and you still get your cut, anything less and i'm off. Also concerned that being preggers could be seen as a nuisance and they would just not renew. Worth trying it with the agency or would i be setting myself up for a fall? Worth saying that the client likes me and i've just delivered a project that four previous PM's failed to deliver.

Too many words...can you do us a flow chart ?

[The Wikir Man]

What makes you think that a five month contract is any more long-term than a three month one, or even a one week one?

If you want to look for a new contract, then go and look for a new contract; if you want to stay for three months, then stay for three months. Depending on how confident you are of finding new work, then go find it (or not).

[northernladuk]

Well first thing that jumps out at me is you have 5 months left and you are going to go look for a 6 month gig. How is that going to work. Do you intend to give your notice. Do you not think they will smell that a mile off and not take you on bearing in mind you can't physically see the contract out? I would guess it take a couple of weeks if not more to find someoen that will take you on and therefore can only take a 3 monther on...

Sorry to say as a contractor your situation is your choice and thats the risk you take. Expecting flexibility for it is permie land. You are either available to work or not. No inbetween and taking contracts and then giving notice is a pretty tulipty thing to do. Won't look good at all when you try and come back.

I would take the three months and keep my fingers crossed for an extension as taking a 6 months with 5 months to go just won't work surely.

[MarillionFan]

Well first thing that jumps out at me is you have 5 months left and you are going to go look for a 6 month gig. How is that going to work. Do you intend to give your notice. Do you not think they will smell that a mile off and not take you on bearing in mind you can't physically see the contract out? I would guess it take a couple of weeks if not more to find someoen that will take you on and therefore can only take a 3 monther on...

Sorry to say as a contractor your situation is your choice and thats the risk you take. Expecting flexibility for it is permie land. You are either available to work or not. No inbetween and taking contracts and then giving notice is a pretty tulipty thing to do. Won't look good at all when you try and come back.

I would take the three months and keep my fingers crossed for an extension as taking a 6 months with 5 months to go just won't work surely.

Bah! WHS! You're not a permie, they owe you nothing and your employments rights as someone expecting a child is not their concern, it's your LTD's.

You risk the 3 for the sake of a 5. I as a client would not renew you.

Take the 3 and hope you don't show much!

[thunderlizard]

You should be OK if you push for the 5 month option a bit harder and give your reasons. Everybody likes babies, it's just the laws around maternity leave that not everybody likes and that won't be an issue.

Agent is saying "3 months is usual" and hoping you'll go with that because agents always take the path of least resistance for their money. Even the slightest bit of shoveback from you will get them straight on the phone to the client giving them 1001 reasons why you should get a 5 month one. (or a 3 month one with a 2 month one pre-agreed on the back of it, if it's a protocol-trumps-brain place).

I can't believe the pessimism of some of my colleagues on here. Don't worry: the usual plot for a Business and Contracts thread is:
A: Is x going to be a problem?
B, C and D: Definitely. Cave in now and count yourself lucky you got away with your life.
A the next day: I phoned them up. It wasn't a problem.

[cojak]

It's not often that you can get 6 months these days, let alone 5.

If you want 5 months go for a 6 month contract and put your notice in 1 month early.

Otherwise just go for 3 months and put your feet up for the last 2 months.

[lje]

I'd push back a bit on the agency to see whether you can get the 5 months you want. I wouldn't tell them about your situation though - you don't want them deciding that they'd better get someone in to replace you...

Take the 3 months if that's all that's on offer. During that time I'd let the client know that you're expecting and that you'd like to work with them for another 2 months. If they like you they shouldn't have a problem. You may also be able to arrange something with them for when you want to start working again.

[Bright Spark]

if you have a substituition clause then go for six months and put in a sub, you might get
another renewal around the 5month mark, as long as the sub is acceptable and you can
guide and mentor the sub you should be able to deliver on both ends !!

[gingerjedi]

I'd push back a bit on the agency to see whether you can get the 5 months you want. I wouldn't tell them about your situation though - you don't want them deciding that they'd better get someone in to replace you...

Take the 3 months if that's all that's on offer. During that time I'd let the client know that you're expecting and that you'd like to work with them for another 2 months. If they like you they shouldn't have a problem. You may also be able to arrange something with them for when you want to start working again.

That's certainly the most professional thing to do as it gives them time to find someone for hand over. I wouldn't wait till month 6 to tell them though, people will be talking by then!