Negotiating Notice Period

**Green Mango** · 8 January 2011, 11:47

Originally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View Post

Hi guys,

I am wondering if anybody has had any experience with negotiating notice period.

I am very likely to be offered an extension in the last week of my contract, however I have been offered an interview for a place close to home in that same week. I don't want to turn down extension only to miss out on the other role. Current notice period is 4 weeks. I am thinking bring it down to 2 weeks or even better 1. Can this be done?

Thanks guys

Why would you want to do that ?

Usually contractors are quite happy with a 1 month notice period unless they are going to
do a moonlight flit and leave the client in the lurch...

Better to not accept the extension until you know the result of the job closer to home.

**MarillionFan** · 8 January 2011, 12:24

Originally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View Post

Hi guys,

I am wondering if anybody has had any experience with negotiating notice period.

I am very likely to be offered an extension in the last week of my contract, however I have been offered an interview for a place close to home in that same week. I don't want to turn down extension only to miss out on the other role. Current notice period is 4 weeks. I am thinking bring it down to 2 weeks or even better 1. Can this be done?

Thanks guys

That's a tricky one.

I am in a similar position. I had 4 weeks put into my contract when I negotiated it. Another role has come up, closer to home but they need me to start earlier.

So I have given my 4 week notice and have given my agreement to the new contract. The idea being, to try and finish the contract earlier(ie. not renege on it, but finish the work. Hence, not bill for the last few days as I am not on site). The second is to try and move the new contract a little. My case is a little different as I have completed the work for the client and they are happy. They are also happy to use me again in the future. My sticking point is the agency, who is being an arse over the notice stating they are losing out!!!! Go figure(I can't bill for work that isn't there, but the agency sees this as a breach if I dont turn up on site for the whole four weeks!????

As it happens, if an agent plays hard and fast you may have a problem. If push comes to shove something has to give and as you have already given notice then any damages would be the commission between days remaining and the period you finish. Attempting to renogiate your period may cause more problems for you.

**Wanderer** · 8 January 2011, 13:12

Originally posted by MarillionFan View Post

I have completed the work for the client and they are happy. They are also happy to use me again in the future. My sticking point is the agency, who is being an arse over the notice stating they are losing out!!!! Go figure(I can't bill for work that isn't there, but the agency sees this as a breach if I dont turn up on site for the whole four weeks!????

Piffle. Just ignore the agency and their bulltulip, point out to them that there is no MOO in your contract. If the client agrees to let you leave early then that's the end of it, nothing to do with the agency - they are just there to factor the payments. They are just looking for a way to screw you for some money for nothing.

We need a list of these stupid agency tricks and how to deal with them. It seems like they try all sorts of tulip on in the hope that they will get away with it or they can withhold some of your money in the hope that you can't be arsed with all the agro of chasing the debt through the courts.

**NorthWestPerm2Contr** · 9 January 2011, 20:18

Cheers guys,

I think I am going to take the "a bird in hand is better than 2 in the bush" approach with this one. My contract finishes on Friday and I am expecting to be offered renewal before my contract finishes. So I will take the renewal once it is offered. I will still attend interview but tell them if they want me they will have to wait 4 weeks if they offer me contract.

**MarillionFan** · 9 January 2011, 21:13

Good luck.

I've given notice on my 1st contract and with the other offer a six month piece of work worth £50k starting in two weeks and only 2 miles from my house, I'm going to.......

Turn that down as well!!

Decided I'm working too much and so going to take three months off, take a holiday and do some training instead.

**NorthWestPerm2Contr** · 9 January 2011, 21:34

I've given notice on my 1st contract and with the other offer a six month piece of work worth £50k starting in two weeks and only 2 miles from my house, I'm going to.......

Turn that down as well!!

Decided I'm working too much and so going to take three months off, take a holiday and do some training instead.

Nutcase

I just hope your in my line of work - every little helps with bringing the rates up....

**ChrisPackit** · 10 January 2011, 10:49

If you have finished the work and the client is happy with you and would use you again etc, what is the problem with giving your 4 weeks notice, billing for 2 weeks and then going on the 'Pat and Mick' for 2 weeks with a mythical dose of Genital herpes or whatever...

As far as I am aware, a 4 week notice period is 4 weeks from the day you give the notice, not 4 working weeks. I've used this to my advantage once or twice when a new client wants you to start ASAP.

Unless I am very much mistaken...

**EternalOptimist** · 10 January 2011, 10:59

Originally posted by ChrisPackit View Post

If you have finished the work and the client is happy with you and would use you again etc, what is the problem with giving your 4 weeks notice, billing for 2 weeks and then going on the 'Pat and Mick' for 2 weeks with a mythical dose of Genital herpes or whatever...

As far as I am aware, a 4 week notice period is 4 weeks from the day you give the notice, not 4 working weeks. I've used this to my advantage once or twice when a new client wants you to start ASAP.

Unless I am very much mistaken...

yeah yeah. and what happens if they send that blonde bird from HR around in week three to examine your saus ?

**contractoralan** · 10 January 2011, 15:52

Recently, a friend was in a similar situation. Contract ending in 6 weeks time and a new contract to 'start immediately'.
He discussed with the client, did two weeks of handover and then started the other contract after that. He came back to the previous client in the last week of the actual contract end date.

The client was happy as they could get clarified on things that the team couldn't handle when he was away, the new client was OK waiting for two weeks and him having a week off later. For the agency and the HR it appeared like he did to the last day of the contract.

Originally posted by Wanderer View Post

Piffle. Just ignore the agency and their bulltulip, point out to them that there is no MOO in your contract. If the client agrees to let you leave early then that's the end of it, nothing to do with the agency - they are just there to factor the payments. They are just looking for a way to screw you for some money for nothing.

We need a list of these stupid agency tricks and how to deal with them. It seems like they try all sorts of tulip on in the hope that they will get away with it or they can withhold some of your money in the hope that you can't be arsed with all the agro of chasing the debt through the courts.

Negotiating Notice Period