How many of you have given notice and walked??

[scooby]

Got a meeting with an old client tomorrow, and its highly likely they'll be taking a service off me and working direct. i expect the money will be similar to my current rate minus expenses. Its a no brainer really.

Current role is based in London but currently there no more than 1 night a fortnight, but agreement is as and when needed and expect after xmas this may increase to 2nights per week. Meeting tomorrow is commutable from home (20miles ish) with no travel.

I've just never given notice (or offered a substitute!) before, how is this viewed by customers / future roles etc? does anyone care?

[MarillionFan]

Go for it. That's what notice periods are for.

Alternatively just say your gran has died and you won't be in from now on as you've got to look after her 50 cats.

[scooby]

Alternatively just say your gran has died and you won't be in from now on as you've got to look after her 50 cats.

[kingcook]

Alternatively just say your gran has died and you won't be in from now on as you've got to look after her 50 cats.

That's a lotta pussy...

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I did it 6 months ago and never looked back. Still got a good relationship with old Client as well. Just leave on good terms - I worked 2.5 weeks when my notice was only 1 week.

[TheFaQQer]

I've just never given notice (or offered a substitute!) before, how is this viewed by customers / future roles etc? does anyone care?

Clients who understand the concept of contractors should understand. Agent will no doubt rant about how unprofessional it is, because they are losing their money.

At the end of the day, if you don't want the contractor to walk, don't allow them to give notice (or make the work so good that they won't consider leaving)

[FiveTimes]

"Unfortunatley for personal reasons I will have to terminate the contract in accordance with clause 3.4"

I've used it and the client was fine and asked if everything was ok at home. I just said I didn't really want to talk about it. The agent was cool also and said it was totally understandable.
Who am I to correct them

[TestMangler]

Did it in 2008 when HBOS did a termination with notice, with the usual 'you can sign back up within 30 days ate a 10% lower rate' email. I didn't say anything to the client or the agent and just disappeared when the 30 days was up. I got a phone call a week after the 30 days was up from a manager asking where I was I told them they had terminated my contract with 30 days notice and they couldn't beilieve I'd actually left rather than accept their 10% cut. I've also given notice to the same client when i got shifted to another location mid contract. I've been back to the same client on a couple of occasions since.

[RobertRice]

I've just never given notice (or offered a substitute!) before, how is this viewed by customers / future roles etc? does anyone care?

Only once and got the expected flak from the agency but worked the notice period and didn't break the contract. Client understood the reasons and got another contract with the same agency a few years later.

[curtis]

Rightly or wrongly I took an extension purely as it had a weeks notice and it kept me working till I a) found another job or b) got to that enough is enough stage and left anyhow.

I did feel a bit weird about doing it when I did hand my notice in but the company were fine and the even the agent was fine!! I never left them in the lurch though when I left which I think is a factor if you do it.