Parallel running Contracts

[SamBuer]

Hi Friends,

My Current employer contract finishes in 4 weeks. No more extensions offered. Notice period is 4 weeks

New employer will only offer new contract if I can join in 2 weeks.

Both are full time contracts.

Question :
Handover etc almost finished with current employer. Can I book last 2 weeks off at Current employer(if they allow) and join new employer. Of course it would be made clear that I will not return after holidays.
Is there anything legally wrong with this?

Any other suggestions?

[rd409]

Hi Friends,

My Current employer contract finishes in 4 weeks. No more extensions offered. Notice period is 4 weeks

New employer will only offer new contract if I can join in 2 weeks.

Both are full time contracts.

Question :
Handover etc almost finished with current employer. Can I book last 2 weeks off at Current employer(if they allow) and join new employer. Of course it would be made clear that I will not return after holidays.
Is there anything legally wrong with this?

Any other suggestions?

Let the current client know that you have got nothing to do left. They can save some money by letting you go early. Be in the good books and you never know they may call you back for some work if something comes up.

[jmo21]

well, there is nothing legally wrong with asking for time off, or to finish early if they let you.

Whether they let you is the real question.

No point asking us, speak to the client.

Explain the new opportunity. They might be quite understanding about it.

[rd409]

well, there is nothing legally wrong with asking for time off, or to finish early if they let you.

If you operate through a ltd company, then you should not ask for time off. Just let them know you would not be available between certain period. Also check your contract if you have got a substitution clause; if yes, exercise it.

[jmo21]

If you operate through a ltd company, then you should not ask for time off. Just let them know you would not be available between certain period. Also check your contract if you have got a substitution clause; if yes, exercise it.

While that is all very well in principal, in practice it can be very different.

While these clauses may well be in your contract just telling a client, I won't be in those days without some kind of decent notice just doesn't cut it, and could lead to early termination.

While the OP does want to finish early, getting a reference might be difficult.

[northernladuk]

While that is all very well in principal, in practice it can be very different.

While these clauses may well be in your contract just telling a client, I won't be in those days without some kind of decent notice just doesn't cut it, and could lead to early termination.

While the OP does want to finish early, getting a reference might be difficult.

Totally agree. I word my emails such that I will not be available for x day to x day but they always overlook this and send me a mail saying approved or if in a critical time they ask me to wait until they have planned any impact which indicates a possibility of it being declined.

As Jmo says, if they say no then I am not going to get in to a fight with them over this or even ask them to reword the approved email. It's just not worth it.

[Funkywood]

It might be better to book the middle two weeks of the four off and tell the new contract that you can start in one week but had booked a one week holiday 3 weeks later .

That way you'll be there at the end of your first contract to wind up as planned.

Not so much leaving early, more inter-leaving.

[Stan.goodvibes]

It might be better to book the middle two weeks of the four off and tell the new contract that you can start in one week but had booked a one week holiday 3 weeks later .

That way you'll be there at the end of your first contract to wind up as planned.

Not so much leaving early, more inter-leaving.

Cunning plan! As cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on and is now working for the U.N. at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning...

[contractoralan]

Cunning plan! As cunning as a fox that used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on and is now working for the U.N. at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning...

I have friends who have taken this approach more than once. As long as you have delivered to the standards and your client(s) are happy with your absence, there is nothing cunning about it. After all, you are in business. Larger consulting companies do this all the time.