Business is Business?

[d000hg]

Quite possible one department were aware, and the PM assumed it was all being sorted out. Nothing done wrong there, though buttering the guy up with a frank explanation and buying him a beer might be a good idea, if he's got caught out and is just annoyed his plans are now messed up.

[apb]

Hypothetically, if you'd known in advance that your manager was going to respond in the way he did, would you have made a different decision?

I'm guessing it would have made absolutely no difference at all.

Had I known this would be the reaction, you're right it would not make any difference.

If he wants to act that way then that's fine as long as I maintain my professionalism and move on, in some way it makes me think I made the right decision.

My loyalty is to providing for my family and hence going for the better rate, not for a bank that would dump me as quick as you like if it suited them.

[jmo21]

I stated a number of times to my line manager that due to the rate cut and uncertainty around the extension I would be actively looking for alternate contracts

This appears to be the salient point.

The manager should have been aware of the situation HE/the decision makers were putting him in.

It sounds like the manager has no clue how contracts work, made a huge assumption about you, and had no plan in place to deal with what would happen should you not renew, hence the bluster about never working for them again.
There wasn't really a 'I won't bs available next week' - you didn't have a contract - it expired and it wasn't til the following weds/thurs the new one could be in place.

Maybe if you had worded it better the manger would have realised, but still their fault.

[SussexSeagull]

In defence of the manager he probably would have had you renewed weeks ago but sign off can be hard to achieve in organisations.

Still, not the OPs fault though.

[Wanderer]

I informed my manager on Wednesday that I would not be renewing - he was shocked, and stated that I should be completing a 4 week notice period to which I said that would not be possible and that I am outside of contract, so notice does not apply - at which point he advised I would never work for them again and slammed the phone down on me!

That is very unprofessional of him, he's only angry because he knows he messed up. The client should have negotiated the contract renewal at least 2 weeks before the end date. Also, HR have to understand that these "10% rate cuts across the board" are going to backfire on them. By not renewing, you will make them think again before pulling this stunt.

[escapeUK]

I would welcome your views.

You did totally the right thing. If everyone did this Im sure the concept of an enforced 10% cut would soon be forgotten about.

I would make a special point of following through with a letter for your records, as to me this is perfect proof of being outside of IR35 re mutuality of obligation. They offered more work, you refused it. Im proud of ya.

[VectraMan]

As TheFaQQer points out it wouldn't have hurt to advise the client of your situation, might even have helped your cause rate/timings wise. If you want to be very hard nosed about it yes it is just business but setting expecations can make it a lot easier.

If might have hurt. They might have decided because you were looking elsewhere they'd hand the renewal to someone else instead.

[apb]

If might have hurt. They might have decided because you were looking elsewhere they'd hand the renewal to someone else instead.

That was my concern. Whist I had said I was actively looking, I didn't think I needed to provide any more detail than that as the information could effectively be used against me.

It was obvious there was no negotiation on the rate cut so this information could not be used as a bargaining point.

[bobspud]

Personally, I would want nothing more to do with a company that thought they could renege on the agreed price for a job.

Your only issue was not managing the chap better.

[BA to the Stars]

Was it Lloyds per chance? I understand that they are implementing 10% cuts across the board for contractors.