handing notice in, is it common?

[inferno]

Can't say I've handed in notice but I have twice refused an extension - both with good reason. In the first instance it was to get to a contract local to home, and in the second instance it was because clientco were taking the p1ss by offering a tulipe contract renewal, so I found a better one and said See ya!

Is refusing an extension classed in the same way as leaving before a contract is due to finish to client and agent?

[ChimpMaster]

Is refusing an extension classed in the same way as leaving before a contract is due to finish to client and agent?

I would say that the client should plan their contract duration/rate/terms very carefully, based on the requirements of the project and not based on standardised 3/6 month contracts, as far as possible given budgetary concerns.

I am professional as far as reasonably possible, but remember that you have a business to run and you are not a charitable organisation.

[VectraMan]

Is refusing an extension classed in the same way as leaving before a contract is due to finish to client and agent?

Absolutely not. If the contract is for 6 months, and the work required is going to take 12, well then it's entirely the client's fault for not planning it better. You shouldn't feel in any way obligated to accept an extension.

Walking in the middle is letting them down though. But OTOH, if the contract allows you to give notice then you're abiding the contract by giving notice, so perhaps you shouldn't feel guilty about it. But then if we all start walking mid-way through contracts, then that can only lead to more contracts with no ability to give notice (these seem to have increased a lot over the last couple of years).

I've never done walked in the middle, but I've turned down last-minute extensions twice on account of already having another gig.

[Bexter]

This topic has been on my mind a lot recently. I understand from people on here the general opinion is to see it through to the end, which is fine. However, I recently came up to my contract renewal and as usually happens heard nothing from agent or client. When I pushed them, with 10 days to go, turns out my agent had just automatically renewed my contract. Never asked if I wanted to renew. Obviously I was quite annoyed because I wasn't sure if I wanted to renew, at which point, both client and agent replied with, "its no big deal if you want to leave, you just give notice. Its the same everywhere blah blah blah".

So now I'm confused? My client/agent tells me its normal to quit a contract when you've had enough and that the renewal date is just a formality/technicality. But yet others on here seem to use only that time to get out?

Ultimately, if you've been somewhere a while, say over 2 years, what's the difference between quitting / not renewing? I can understand not leaving 6 weeks into a 6 month contract, as this just looks poor, but if its a long standing contract, does it make any difference?

[eek]

Ultimately, if you've been somewhere a while, say over 2 years, what's the difference between quitting / not renewing? I can understand not leaving 6 weeks into a 6 month contract, as this just looks poor, but if its a long standing contract, does it make any difference?

Provided your client (and agent to a little extent) are happy about you leaving that's fine.

I personally try and time departures to end points of work as it makes it easier to escape with everyone happy (and you're not passing unfinished work to someone else to finish off / badmouth you).

The main thing to avoid doing is leaving people in the lurch. If things are quiet they won't mind you escaping. If you are the core person on a 6 month redevelopment of a core system don't leave after 3 months and expect them to be happy about it.

[Wanderer]

turns out my agent had just automatically renewed my contract. Never asked if I wanted to renew. Obviously I was quite annoyed because I wasn't sure if I wanted to renew, at which point, both client and agent replied with, "its no big deal if you want to leave, you just give notice.

I haven't seen your contract but that's NOT how a fixed term contract works. When the contract expires you have to sign a new one. The agency doesn't renew it without asking you first.

You may have a rolling contract which is automatically renewed but that will be written into the contract.

[curtis]

I know someone who chops and changes like the wind but still manages to get good rates at good places. Sure it'll catch up eventually.

The thing is how do people know, of course if you use the same agent they 'might' remember if it was recent but I have been in IT for 12 years now and I think there has only been 2 occasions I have used the same agent and as far as the client is concerned if you walked from a 6 monther after 3 months they will just see it as having been a 3 month contract. Even if you walked from a 12 monther after 2 weeks it could have been a 2 week contract.

My personal opinion is if I need to I will use my notice, but I don't want to do it very often. I kind of see it as a last resort.

[HeliCraig]

My personal opinion is if I need to I will use my notice, but I don't want to do it very often. I kind of see it as a last resort.

I can understand not leaving 6 weeks into a 6 month contract, as this just looks poor, but if its a long standing contract, does it make any difference?

These two quotes just about sum up my scenario at the end of last month. I was 6 months into another 12 month contract, this being by 5th renewal with the same ClientCo.

I had major concerns with a project I was being roped into, and a PM who frankly didn't understand what the hell was going on.

I decided it would be best to exercise the 4 week notice clause and move on. I don't feel bad about it, because I exercised a clause in the contract which I was entitled to, and had already proved that under normal circumstances I would not have done so.

I also thought of it as Karma, as ExClientCo used the same 4 week notice term on all contractors in the past in order to effect a rate change. They can't have their cake and eat it.

[Fred Bloggs]

As ever, this really boils down to circumstances. One job I handed my notice in because I thought the job was heading into trouble. Less than two months later all the contractors got binned. Another jo I started and hated it, it took me 6 weeks to get another one lined up and then left. But the client co didn't hesitate to engage me again a year later at another branch office. On other occaisions, such as this job, I've stayed to the bitter end so it is the client binning me at the end of the job.

[SueEllen]

This topic has been on my mind a lot recently. I understand from people on here the general opinion is to see it through to the end, which is fine. However, I recently came up to my contract renewal and as usually happens heard nothing from agent or client. When I pushed them, with 10 days to go, turns out my agent had just automatically renewed my contract. Never asked if I wanted to renew. Obviously I was quite annoyed because I wasn't sure if I wanted to renew, at which point, both client and agent replied with, "its no big deal if you want to leave, you just give notice. Its the same everywhere blah blah blah".

So now I'm confused? My client/agent tells me its normal to quit a contract when you've had enough and that the renewal date is just a formality/technicality. But yet others on here seem to use only that time to get out?

That's complete legal rot unless you had a rolling contract.

Your contract is with the agent, so if you were unhappy with the contract and just walked at the end of the original contract term then the agent would have no legal comeback on you.

The agent could phone you up and shout and scream but they can't do anything. There as the client could sue the agent if you just walked.

On the other hand if you worked a day over your original contract term it would be legally assumed you accepted the new contract so you would have to give notice.