If I want to quit a contract after a few days?

[snowflake]

Say I want to quit a contract (contractor, using umbrella company) to take a job in Switzerland... I realise this only a week after I started the new contract.

How bad would this be? Any way I could actually do that?
Do I end up on a contractor blacklist forever... etc?

Not a British citizen (am from Belgium) if that is of any relevance. I don't necessarily plan to live in the UK in the future..

The situation occurred because I felt I needed to jump on a contract before the foreign employer could make up his mind.

[stek]

Say I want to quit a contract (contractor, using umbrella company) to take a job in Switzerland... I realise this only a week after I started the new contract.

How bad would this be? Any way I could actually do that?
Do I end up on a contractor blacklist forever... etc?

Not a British citizen (am from Belgium) if that is of any relevance. I don't necessarily plan to live in the UK in the future..

The situation occurred because I felt I needed to jump on a contract before the foreign employer could make up his mind.

Never good to jump ship as a professional but need s must sometimes.

I did it once but with good reason, role was totally not as described, talked it over with all concerned and everyone was reasonably happy. My current role isn't exactly as exciting as I thought and I've had offers recently but I feel honour bound to see it out, because I don't want a bad rep. and more importantly to be, my own pride and sense of honour.

On the other hand, grass is greener jumping is a bit naughty and if it was me, I'd never take you on again in any role.

HTH

Bad form.

[cojak]

But since you're not a Brit, at least you won't give UK contractors a bad name...

[snowflake]

Thanks for the input!
I get the message that it would be a pretty bad thing to do.

Is this sort of thing common? I can't recall it happening although I've seen a few contractors get sacked before their contracts were up. But never seen anyone quitting.

[stek]

Thanks for the input!
I get the message that it would be a pretty bad thing to do.

Is this sort of thing common? I can't recall it happening although I've seen a few contractors get sacked before their contracts were up. But never seen anyone quitting.

Go with your conscience, that's all you can do.

[snowflake]

Just some more details:
The contract hasn't actually been signed yet due to admin hassle. So the situation is hypothetical and I haven't started the job yet. It starts next week.

[stek]

Just some more details:
The contract hasn't actually been signed yet due to admin hassle. So the situation is hypothetical and I haven't started the job yet. It starts next week.

Have ur emailed ur acceptance or agreed verbally? Either are legally binding, one more difficult to prove than the other....

[snowflake]

Have ur emailed ur acceptance or agreed verbally? Either are legally binding, one more difficult to prove than the other....

Only verbally although the emails are definitely talking about starting the role etc.
But the ACTUAL contract has not been signed yet.

[Jubber]

Only verbally although the emails are definitely talking about starting the role etc.
But the ACTUAL contract has not been signed yet.

Review the contract - find some things you don't like e.g. handcuff clause - tell them you want them out. I doubt if you will find common ground and they'll just tell the client that No.1 choice is no longer available but No.2 choice is - in the meantime you can be sorting out terms with the Swiss.

Bad form really - but if you haven't signed, much easier to get out of, subject to contract and all that. (IMO)

[Pondlife]

Go with your conscience, that's all you can do.

WSS.

If the new swiss company decides they don't want you and you hear this after you've jumped you'd be pretty pissedoff, no?

For clarrity, you say after a week but also that you haven't started yet, it can't be both.

If you're on site then you've accepted the contract terms as they were, including any notice period.