Should a contractor have a conscience?

**TykeMerc** · 10 February 2011, 23:36

Originally posted by Scrag Meister View Post

Have just had a phone call from the manager on my contract that I completed last May, asking if I would like to come back to continue the same role.

Not ideal as the role was boring, but hey as is quoted often on here, as long as you are invoicing, right?

However it means that they are going to terminate the contract of the guy who took over from me. Feeling slightly guilty about this as he is a sound guy and I have been out for drinks with him a few times over the last 9 months.

If he's not up to the task they will terminate him anyway. If you don't take the role then someone else will.

**NotAllThere** · 11 February 2011, 06:02

Of course you should have a conscience. But there's nothing immoral, unethical or back-stabbing about taking this contract. I'd only not take it if I thought the client was shafting the other guy, and so there's a high chance they'd shaft me!

**FiveTimes** · 11 February 2011, 08:35

Are you in contract at the moment ?

Also the manager obviously rates you highly so perhaps this is a chance to add a premium to your rate

**MarillionFan** · 11 February 2011, 08:47

The sure conscience is the question here.

I was a gig recently where the other contractor who had been there a year was shockingly poor. The client had had a run of poor contractors and there output was poor. This was the best of a poor lot

I was told he had fallen behind. 50 days behind. I did 'two weeks' worth within the first few days. He just wasnt good enough and was swinging the lead. The last few contractors had all done the same.

I knocked the 50 day backlog out in 10 days and then gave them notice. They had told me they wished to terminate his contract and replace him with me. Only issue was, I had finished the work, didnlt like them and knew that the backlog was down to their bad management.

They came to me to say they were going to terminate him, I said don't bother here's my notice and took another gig instead.

**TestMangler** · 11 February 2011, 09:11

I was asked years ago (mid nineties) to come in to a client for two days to look at some OS/2 server stuff (shows how long ago it was). When I got there, the PM asked me to hang about in the server room with another contractor in on the same two day gig as me and observe the OS/2 guy and the Netware guy they already had in. After two days, PM asked us what we thought of them. We both said the Netware guy was OK but the OS/2 guy was struggling a bit. PM calls the OS/2 guy over right in front of us and says 'You, get yer coat and get to f**k' then says, 'Right, Mangler, you're on a three monther if you want it'.

I felt a bit sorry for the OS/2 guy until the first invoice went in. As someone else says, if you don't take his gig, someone else will. If you want it, 'ave it.

**TheFaQQer** · 11 February 2011, 09:20

Originally posted by NotAllThere View Post

Of course you should have a conscience. But there's nothing immoral, unethical or back-stabbing about taking this contract. I'd only not take it if I thought the client was shafting the other guy, and so there's a high chance they'd shaft me!

WHS.

This guy is going, the client knows you, likes you, and thinks you're the man for the job and they made a mistake in letting you go.

There's nothing unethical about taking the role - if you want it, then as someone else said then there may be a chance for an increase as well, since they know what they are getting and know how getting someone else in proved to be a false economy.

**cojak** · 11 February 2011, 09:41

A contractor should be professional. If and when that comes with a conscience, so much the better.

**rsingh** · 11 February 2011, 11:08

Returning to a client will looks good on your cv. Go for it.

**SeekingIT** · 11 February 2011, 12:09

Where does Conscience come in?

Originally posted by Scrag Meister View Post

Have just had a phone call from the manager on my contract that I completed last May, asking if I would like to come back to continue the same role.

Not ideal as the role was boring, but hey as is quoted often on here, as long as you are invoicing, right?

However it means that they are going to terminate the contract of the guy who took over from me. Feeling slightly guilty about this as he is a sound guy and I have been out for drinks with him a few times over the last 9 months.

Where's your Issue?

There is a business/incumbent that cannot perform, you've been recalled to perform and do what the current incumbent cannot do.........where does conscience come into play?

Should a contractor have a conscience?