Giving notice

[GeorgeGregan]

I'm getting phone calls daily for roles offering a substantial improvement on my current rate. Very tempting to jump ship.

How common is it for people to give notice mid-way through a contract? Obviously I'll burn bridges with the client but how would the agency view this? Is it unusual or all just part of the game?

[malvolio]

I suppose the real answer is "Too f***ing ofen". Suppose you took the car in for a service and then the garage called you to say they've got the engine out, but can't be bothered to do any more because there's this Mercedes needs doing and it pays a lot more...?

If you have a notice period in your contract, then of course you can use it, except you'll more than likely not have a job to go to after four weeks delay. You'll probably never work with that agency again as well as the client, but hey, it's all about money, isn't it? Really depends how professional you want to be and how big the pay gap is between the job you have and the one you might have if it all comes off and they can wait for you. Reality is you won't have the client, the agent or the job, but it's your call.

[privateeye]

I'm getting phone calls daily for roles offering a substantial improvement on my current rate. Very tempting to jump ship.

How common is it for people to give notice mid-way through a contract? Obviously I'll burn bridges with the client but how would the agency view this? Is it unusual or all just part of the game?

If they don't want you to give notice mid-way they shouldn't put a notice clause in the contract - equally you agreed that they could give you notice so its perfectly fair. I have only used the notice clause once because the client was poor and I prefer not to use it. Depends who your agent is but as long as you keep to the wording of your contract they can't do a thing.

[Denny]

If you're inside IR35, you've remained opted in and your working conditions reflect the contracted terms commensurate with being a 'bum on seat' temp with notice, supplied equipment, micro-managed work and regular hours to 'fit in with the team etc.', then **** em. If their employees can give notice then so should you.

If you're taking yourself seriously as a business, and your working conditions reflect that and you've opted out to demonstrate your commitment to taking risks with both the agency and the client then finish the contract and behave like a responsible business just as you would if you had gone direct to the client.

Ultimately, it's the client's and the agency's call whether they not they encourage candidates to act like psuedo temps. They can't have it both ways.

[Mordac]

>I'm getting phone calls daily for roles offering a substantial improvement on my current rate.

If you didn't like the rate, why did you sign the contract? Or, to put it another way, how would you feel if the client turned round half way through your contract and said "sorry mate, but we've found someone cheaper, here's a weeks notice"? You'd bitch like hell, so why even ask?

[GeorgeGregan]

If you didn't like the rate, why did you sign the contract? Or, to put it another way, how would you feel if the client turned round half way through your contract and said "sorry mate, but we've found someone cheaper, here's a weeks notice"? You'd bitch like hell, so why even ask?

I signed the contract because of a bird in hand and all that - had other things on the go but this was the first one prepared to put pen to paper and I'm happy with the rate even though it's not the absolute maximum I may have been able to get. However if other clients are paying 20%+ more and are willing to wait my notice period then it seems worth considering.

Was simply trying to determine if this is part of the normal cut and thrust of the contracting world. Having seen the post 2001 downturn I'm not so naive to think that the skills I'm currently being paid well for will be worth anything a year or two down the track so it's a case of balancing a "make hay while the sun shines" mentality with the potential damage to my professional reputation which, in the scheme of things, seems to matter less and less these days.

[tim123]

Was simply trying to determine if this is part of the normal cut and thrust of the contracting world.

IMHO it is not. The notice period is there for you to terminate if your personal circumstances change or if the nature of the work changes from that originally offered.

It is not there for you to jump ship if someone offers you more money.

Just my 2p.

tim

[malvolio]

However if other clients are paying 20%+ more and are willing to wait my notice period then it seems worth considering

That is really the point. As I said, you are perfectly at liberty to use your notice period to keep up with the market, but you should discuss it with your client and you should make some attempt to replace yourself, either with a sub (which if you can kills any thought of IR35 stone-dead) or by suggesting a suitable reaplcement to the agency. Thinking like a business works several ways.

It also depends when your contract is up - if it's not too far away then hang on and leave gracefully and take a minor hit on the bank balance while you do, or even re-negotiate up to market rate (although that is a path fraught with peril!) since the client will need to pay that to replace you anyway.

[ratewhore]

See the gig through, it's much more professional. If the phone is ringing off the hook then there will still be work around come renewal time. And of course, you could always go for the rate rise then as an alternative...

[expat]

how would you feel if the client turned round half way through your contract and said "sorry mate, but we've found someone cheaper, here's a weeks notice"?

Oh, does that not happen, then?