Fickle clientco

[Robster]

I've just come to the end of my first contract role (3 years 3 months) for a global outsourcer based in Aldershot.

They had signalled their intention to renew in July, and informed me this was still the case a couple of times since. After being told last week that they still intended to renew and their internal approval process being slow was the reason for me not receiving the new contract through* I was told on the penultimate day of the contract, that they had decided not to renew. Obviously nothing is definate until its signed, but this doesn't seem to be a particularly good way to do business. What do you guys think of this? Is this sort of thing quite common when contracting for big companies?

Although I'm on the bench slightly unexpectedly, I think its for the best as it was a very boring contract, and I was on a low rate (due to my lack of market knowledge when I was offered it), but didn't have the cash behind me to jump (I do now)

*apparently a couple of other guys were on the bench for 2 weeks recently as a result of this and eventually got a renewal

[Flopsy]

My experience has been that the end client has always been honest with me about when a contract ends. The agents aren't, they will try and lead me along.

Even when working on a clients site and for an outsourcer they were honest. Other less well things have happened (i.e a rate cut) of course.

Sounds like someone lied to you or that the person you asked wasn't the one making the decision. You'll know which one I presume.

Why not name and shame them?

[doodab]

Some companies will purposely lie because they don't want to risk you becoming demotivated and/or resentful.

It tends to be outsourcers / consultancy firms that do this in my experience, presumably because they are so used to bulltulipting their clients it becomes ingrained in the corporate culture that honesty is never the best policy.

[northernladuk]

3 years and 3 months with an outsourcer? Just out of interest are you aware of IR35 and have factored it all in etc etc or did you just turn up 9 to 5 like a permie after that long?

Anyway..... With a large company there are so many levels of politics and approvals etc I can't see why it is uncommon to tell you one thing and a week later they change their minds. The guy managing your workload could quite easily want you and put in a request to keep you fully intending it to be approved, his boss says we will see and approves request. Your time approaches and everyone start pushing it cause accounts haven't approved it (as always), they escalate it but the answer is no so comes back down to you at the very last minute and this time (bearing in mind you have had more than your fair share of yes's) you get a no.

I would seriously doubt people would lie over something like this. More probably had the right intention and other things messed up.

Eitherway whether they tell you a week before, a day before or at the exit doors it doesn't matter. I think you have been there too long and have gotten used to a chushy number imo.

[Robster]

In this case I don't think anyone was being dishonest, neither of the people telling me they intended to renew - manager of the team I was working with, and HR minion - were the the ones making the decision.

are you aware of IR35

Yes I am, I think there was an element of head in sand involved

I think you have been there too long and have gotten used to a chushy number imo.

You're pretty spot on there, I'd been there far too long, in several senses.

[Svalbaard]

CSC by any chance?

[thunderlizard]

That is an unusual experience, because usually it's blatantly obvious whether there's a continuing need for your services or not. But as northernlad says there can be all sorts of things going on behind the scenes. Try asking them why they decided not to renew, if only to set your mind at ease and find out if there's anything you can improve for next time.

Still you're taking it in the right spirit: you've done the job as long as they needed you; you've banked some cash; time to be a contractor and move on.

(p.s. you should be in the pub now!)

[Robster]

you should be in the pub now!

Don't worry I went out for a few to celebrate last night

[northernladuk]

Blehh.. I didn't read the Aldershot bit. If it is CSC and they handle the contractor renewals as badly as their permies when making them redundant (me) I am surprised anyone actually advised you of anything and didn't just leave you sitting in an empty office without a clue.