Dealing with notice periods

[psychocandy]

Sign the contract.

When you need to bail, tell them you will be unavailable for work from two weeks time for two weeks. Then give one month's notice.

Correct of course but would go down like a lead balloon. Yet to see a client/agency who would not go nuts over this sort of thing.

[Old Greg]

Correct of course but would go down like a lead balloon. Yet to see a client/agency who would not go nuts over this sort of thing.

Yes, but we've established you plan to drop them in the tulip, so we need to explore how. A contractor colleague did this a month ago. It was shrugged off.

[psychocandy]

Yes, but we've established you plan to drop them in the tulip, so we need to explore how. A contractor colleague did this a month ago. It was shrugged off.

Hopefully not but I'd rather get it sorted contractually in advance if possible.

[b0redom]

FFS. If you don't intend to finish the contract, why start it?

If you just want it as a short term gig until something else comes along, what does it matter what the client thinks? Just exercise your RoS or invoke MOO and say, "I'm going to be unavailable."

Alternatively if and when it comes down to it, speak to the client contact and say, "Sorry but something else has come along, I don't want to leave you in the lurch so....." No one wants to keep a hostile employee/subcontractor.

If you're that scared, then just 'break a leg' making you unable to travel. I know a guy who did this once, and the end client sent him some flowers and a get well soon card. True story.

[DirtyDog]

Correct of course but would go down like a lead balloon. Yet to see a client/agency who would not go nuts over this sort of thing.

If it's a crap client / role, then why worry what they think?

You know that there are ways out, just be prepared to use one if you want / need to.

[eek]

I'm betting the notice period is going to be as above. Any suggestions on how to negotiate this? Or is it just dig in heels and refuse to sign otherwise?
Don't want to make it look like I'm going to bail at the first opportunity but would like equal flexibility.

Ask, ask again then decide whether to accept or to stay on the bench being a

Oh and this is hardly a question for a professional forum.....

[Old Greg]

Hopefully not but I'd rather get it sorted contractually in advance if possible.

No, no, no. You don't tell them your plan.

You already have it sorted out contractually, as I said before. You want to tell them you plan to do the dirty with them AND for it be contractually above board AND to stay on good terms at the end.

You've got a family to support. Do what you have to do and don't worry about what they think at the end of it. You may end up there for the duration and glad of the work.

[psychocandy]

You've got a family to support. Do what you have to do and don't worry about what they think at the end of it. You may end up there for the duration and glad of the work.

Agree with this bit. Got to think of yourself.

[VectraMan]

I was offered a contract with no ability to give notice on my side (but 2 weeks the other way), but I refused and suggested 4 weeks. The agent made a big deal about going back to the client and asking, and it was agreed 4 weeks.

I found out later that everybody at ClientCo. had to give only 2 weeks notice, and they did the same for contractors - as I found out from a couple of other contractors through the same agent. So it was just the agent lying (shock horror!). I think the reason was that there was another contractor hired for the same job who just didn't show up on the first day (was it one of you?), so with me the agent was covering himself.

[SueEllen]

I was offered a contract with no ability to give notice on my side (but 2 weeks the other way), but I refused and suggested 4 weeks. The agent made a big deal about going back to the client and asking, and it was agreed 4 weeks.

I found out later that everybody at ClientCo. had to give only 2 weeks notice, and they did the same for contractors - as I found out from a couple of other contractors through the same agent. So it was just the agent lying (shock horror!). I think the reason was that there was another contractor hired for the same job who just didn't show up on the first day (was it one of you?), so with me the agent was covering himself.

On a couple of roles I've had in the past 3 years there have been contractors who haven't shown up on the first day.

One contract had no notice period* while the other did so I don't think that's the problem.

What I noticed with the 2 agencies involved is they had a very poor attitude in getting their tulipty contracts changed.

*This wasn't true as if you wanted to go the client would let you.