Leaving contract early - special circumstances

[Miguel]

Hi all, wondering what the general ethics are regarding leaving a contract early but with special conditions. So I'm in my 3rd contract with this client, currently 2 months into it and was told the project finishes at the end of March. I had assumed I would be doing general BAU work on the system as I am the most qualified though I had heard a rumour on the grapevine that I may be given notice prior to my contract ending. I asked my boss and he sheepishly told it was a possibility and he couldn't guarantee anything. As the funding for the project ends so ends my involvement. He mentioned there was a chance of getting me on a new project which was dependent on this funding but no guarantee there either.

Now the current project has been delayed by a month, my position is still up in the air. I have started looking around - so what's the general consensus of me finding something and handing in my notice. I am the main IT resource on the project and it would be extremely difficult for it to go live without me, however I feel they have left my position up in the air.

It's been 3 weeks since that talk with my boss and then my boss' boss told me the same thing

So would you leave in this situation?

[cojak]

Well, it's clear that you consider yourself a BOS (bum on seat) contractor, with that in mind I guess you could drop the contract early if you find another contract first (though that's doubtful in the current market).

As I'm a project consultant I consider the project over at the end of my contract or when the project ends/runs out of budget. Therefore I wouldn't leave early.

It depends on whether you're happy burning bridges with the client - I've been invited back more than once to old clients, they know I won't let them down.

[TheFaQQer]

So would you leave in this situation?

Unlikely, since I like to see the project through. The only time I've left a contract early was when we were in post go-live support and they were offering one month extensions at the end of each month. I had someone approach me about a role which I fancied (which lasted 18 months) so that one was a no-brainer.

Have you mentioned to your "boss" (a curious term for a contractor to use) that you are looking for other roles elsewhere? That might chivvy them along and make a decision one way or the other. It may, of course, not be the answer that you are looking for - if they start to question your commitment then you end up with no role anywhere.

One thing you haven't mentioned is when your current contract is up - how early are you walking out on them?

Oh - one more thing - what makes you think that your circumstances are special in any way? You are in contract, you want to find another contract, you are thinking of leaving. I see nothing special in that.

[quackhandle]

Welcome to contracting. They need a resource (you) PDQ, so your in (for x weeks/months). You invoice.

Then horrors, for whatever reason, they don't need you. Your out on your ass within days/week(s).

You find another gig. And so it begins.

Keep invoicing.

qh

[Scrag Meister]

Look after yourself and get out there looking, the end of March is just over 3 weeks away.

You could get caught napping if it all comes to end , while you sit there twiddling your thumbs waiting for confirmation of the situation.

[Wanderer]

So would you leave in this situation?

No, but if they say your contract is going to end then get looking for a new one now! There isn't much work out there....

[northernladuk]

Every contract comes to an end, it is the way we work. If you are going to take the mentality that you bail early every time the end approaches you are going to run out of clients that will take you on. Yes look after yourself but being mercenary isn't the way. You signed up for a piece of work, see it though to the end. Start looking in the last 3 weeks so you have irons in the fire ready to start work on the first day after the contract fine. Bailing just because a contract is about to end is not. You are a professional and that kind of reputation will do you no good.

I don't see any special circumstances there, I see a contractor life. The big mistake is you assuming you will get work and probably the fact you are a disguised employee.

Read up on IR35.... I would personally say you are shafted there so you have no choice but to move... when the contract is finished IMO.....

[SandyD]

I usually like to stay until the end of the contract, but a couple of times when I was a bum on seat, knew/suspected there will no renewal - and got a very good opportunity elsewhere I have given my notice, as long as its done really nicely and did not upset your manager it should be fine. I also managed to get a contract back with the same clients I have left earlier. They usually check with your prev manager before giving you another offer, as long as its done nicely and openly with your manager it should be no problem. In fact some managers maybe grateful you are releasing some of their budget, it all depends on the situation.


End of March is in a couple of weeks anyway, but the time you get an offer and complete all the paperwork you should be fine to leave... unless they renewed your contract due to the delays in the projects.

[SandyD]

Oh and I have been one contract with a big bank, they had huge budgets cuts so they gave me notice earlier than the end of my contracts (within 3 months of starting) therefore if this is a B2B relationship and the client see fit to end the contract early, I see no reason why a contractor Ltd company can't do the same... but again it needs to be done very nicely, professionally, and for a very good reason, not just because a contractor got better money.

[BlasterBates]

Agreed with the above leave early but do talk it through with your manager. The fact that you are sitting around not doing very much would mean he probably wouldn´t mind.

Always think in terms of possibily coming back or getting a good reference, and don´t see any problem at all in an amicable agreement to leave early.