Notice Period Clarification

[Going Strong]

Hi All

Just needed some advice from you all if you dont mind.

I started my current gig in the end of May for 4 months based in berkshire, after one month the team were sent on a weekly rotating basis to our other sites which are in scotland and manchester which wasnt in the terms i signed with the agent, os on this offer i relacated to berkshire as im originally from London.

I had confirmation from my agent 3 days ago about what my notice period was here and he confirmed that there was no notice period on eitherside, and my interpritation of this was that i had the green light to look elsewehre as they reduced the contract dates by two weeks for us all so just to ensure im in work through to xmas i started looking for my next gig.

I managed to secure the next contract after a 1 day turn around which is quite quick in my view but it means im now living back at home and get to see my wifey on a daily and the money was the same.

I called the agent and said to him im giving in my notice now and ill finish on Tuesday, this was after i just notified my line manager (also a contractor) and he was fine with it and understood my position as i wasnt aware we would be working so far from base office so frequently.

In my defence I am a newly wed and i am renting in berkshire at £550 a month so to be sent around the UK offices which wasnt explained prior to signing the contract I found was quite unfair.

So... i spoke to the agent to notify him of all this and he says to me

"although i told you that you had no notice period eitherside it actually states in your contract that you have to complete the contract to the end"

I was livid and asked why he failed to expand on the terms when he called me back.... when i first asked him about the notice period 3 weeks ago he said he will look into it as it wasnt clear in the contract.

There are 3 of us who were unsure of notice periods so i clearly wanted some clarity before i moved on.

Is there such a thing as "No Notice Period?" meaning were not allowed to give any notice?

[mudskipper]

Hi All

Just needed some advice from you all if you dont mind.

I started my current gig in the end of May for 4 months based in berkshire, after one month the team were sent on a weekly rotating basis to our other sites which are in scotland and manchester which wasnt in the terms i signed with the agent, os on this offer i relacated to berkshire as im originally from London.

I had confirmation from my agent 3 days ago about what my notice period was here and he confirmed that there was no notice period on eitherside, and my interpritation of this was that i had the green light to look elsewehre as they reduced the contract dates by two weeks for us all so just to ensure im in work through to xmas i started looking for my next gig.

I managed to secure the next contract after a 1 day turn around which is quite quick in my view but it means im now living back at home and get to see my wifey on a daily and the money was the same.

I called the agent and said to him im giving in my notice now and ill finish on Tuesday, this was after i just notified my line manager (also a contractor) and he was fine with it and understood my position as i wasnt aware we would be working so far from base office so frequently.

In my defence I am a newly wed and i am renting in berkshire at £550 a month so to be sent around the UK offices which wasnt explained prior to signing the contract I found was quite unfair.

So... i spoke to the agent to notify him of all this and he says to me

"although i told you that you had no notice period eitherside it actually states in your contract that you have to complete the contract to the end"

I was livid and asked why he failed to expand on the terms when he called me back.... when i first asked him about the notice period 3 weeks ago he said he will look into it as it wasnt clear in the contract.

There are 3 of us who were unsure of notice periods so i clearly wanted some clarity before i moved on.

Is there such a thing as "No Notice Period?" meaning were not allowed to give any notice?

If the contract states "no notice period" then that is ambiguous and therefore unenforceable. Do you have emails confirming that this is what you were told?

[norrahe]

If the contract states "no notice period" then that is ambiguous and therefore unenforceable. Do you have emails confirming that this is what you were told?

Also did you get your contract checked before you signed it? Have you re-read it to find the item whereby it specifies that you complete said contract and must work to the end??

[Mr.Whippy]

it actually states in your contract that you have to complete the contract to the end

Is this bit true/correct? Because if it is, there is your answer.....

What is the exact wording in the contract?

ps. Please don't post things as "**URGENT**"... It's pointless as it wont make people look/reply any quicker

[The Agents View]

Your mistake is the word "Interpretation".

Contracts should not be open to interpretation, they are there to form the basis of an agreement which is black and white.

At the time, you should have CHECKED your contract, and this whole situation could have been avoided.

That said, if you have this exchange recorded on email, then you might have a leg to stand on.

If your contract says that you must see it through to the end, then I'm afraid that's what the contract says, and you then have two choices. Either bite the bullet (you're an interim, travel is to be expected) and see the contract through, or risk legal action for breach of contract.

LESSON: READING YOUR FRIKKING CONTRACTS BEFORE SIGNING THEM!!!!

[blacjac]

However if the contract also says that you work at the reading office then they can't make you go to the others...

So refuse to do it.

[Boo]

I was livid and asked why he failed to expand on the terms when he called me back

Well, honey, why didn't you read the f****** thing ?

Boo

[Old Greg]

If you really want out, do you have a 'Right of Substitution' clause in your contract? If so, enforce it, which I am sure they will find unsatisfactory and then terminate your contract. There is a reasonable possibility that the agency's contract with the client does not contain this clause, so they will have some explaining to do to their client.

You will p1ss perople off with this, but there you are.

OG

[Weltchy]

If the contract doesn't state other work locations except for Reading, doesn't that mean they are in breach of contract anyway?

[NotAllThere]

...

ps. Please don't post things as "**URGENT**"... It's pointless as it wont make people look/reply any quicker

And it goes out of date quite quickly. So I've edited the title.

In fact, it might well make people less likely to respond, as it is generally considered to be quite rude.