How to extricate from a fixed term contract?

[rsingh]

Is there a clause stating lack of mutuality of obligation? If you're not sure, then there probably isn't.

[thunderlizard]

The best way to do this in good faith is to make it clear to them that you are unable to carry on personally, and make reasonable arrangements to hand it over to a substitute. Often the client will opt to deal with your substitute (or one of their own choosing) direct instead, and cut you free.

[psychocandy]

Couldnt you just phone in sick indefinitely until the end of the contract? Surely theres nothing in there to demand doctors notes or the like.

You might not be too popular with agency or client though.

[BearAssCheek]

Sounds like this is one of those dodgy 1 year fixed term contracts where you're actually perm, but only for a year. Personally they strike me as the worst of all worlds, and I avoid them like the plague, but the answer as always is:

"What does your contract say?"

Yer - I'm in one of these after 3 years contracting. T&Cs are dire and all one-sided. They get to dictate hours, pay, benefits etc. and really expect the world for a fraction of what I've earned before. I don't get training as I'm 'temporary' (even though this is illegal its difficult to prove they would give the same training to the incumbent). I get asked to do all sorts of things/hours outside of my contract as they don't know the difference between permie and contract (or how to treat folks who do contract/temp roles). I suck it up as its a new field for me and I'm getting valuable experience.

But my contract has a week notice either side which works in my favour on the one hand. I'll be looking around again come August as I suspect mum-to-be will be returning from maternity (after which they could give me a weeks notice and I'll be out on my ear lol)

Swings and roundabouts but if I didnt need to get the experience I wouldn't have taken it.

If the contracts were out there, I'd still be running a limited co. - but bills must be paid and all that.