Warning Signs

[greenlake]

You arrive on client site, and settle into a new contract. But thing don't seem right, is it just a new environment or are they warning signs to look for something new, quickly?

All the senior member of the team have left or are due to leave soon. Check
No one is making decisions, waiting for an announcement. Check

Anything else?

[barrydidit]

Desktops rather than laptops. Lotus notes rather than outlook. And the clincher: union posters plastered on boards in communal areas. If it's a hat trick then just walk.

[PurpleGorilla]

All the permies wanna connect on LinkedIn...

[NotAllThere]

• ...
• Receptionist's desk is not visible from yours
• Huge open plan office treating people like copy+paste resources
  
• Nescafe gold blend
• No phone reception
  ...

At a Nestlé site it was gold blend only. We used to go to a local café for coffee.

[Troll]

Open-plan office in which two-thirds of the desks are empty, except for the occasional four-socket adapter and a few trailing Ethernet cables.

I always have a look in those empty desk drawers to see what as left behind - whether it was a sudden unexpected event - e.g. cup a soups left for lunch & never given time to retrieve or empty with everyone aware of what was about to happen

[alreadypacked]

Client Co is solid, but took over with another company earlier this year.

What I didn't realise when I took the contract, I am working in the office of the company they took over.

This is following the usual trend. Take over goes through. BAU for about 6 months. Then heads begin to roll, just before Christmas.

So these bail-outs are trying to beat the Christmas rush.

So glad I'm a contractor, looking at some of these permies, I am not sure if they would remember to go to a new office, if they got a new job.

[alreadypacked]

Open-plan office in which two-thirds of the desks are empty, except for the occasional four-socket adapter and a few trailing Ethernet cables.

Check

[DaveB]

Desktops rather than laptops. Lotus notes rather than outlook. And the clincher: union posters plastered on boards in communal areas. If it's a hat trick then just walk.

Sounds like most Public Sector gigs Ive done. Usually two out of three. ATM I have Lotus Notes and union posters with one client, Desktops and union posters at another and no idea about the third cos I never go into their offices ( I got the gig after a quick chat and a coffee in a local Cafe Nero.)

[MicrosoftBob]

Sounds like most Public Sector gigs Ive done. Usually two out of three. ATM I have Lotus Notes and union posters with one client, Desktops and union posters at another and no idea about the third cos I never go into their offices ( I got the gig after a quick chat and a coffee in a local Cafe Nero.)

One Uni, the IT manager always had a copy of Socialist Worker on her desk, at least it gave me warning not to say anything sensible

[meridian]

At a Nestlé site it was gold blend only. We used to go to a local café for coffee.

Gold Blend with powdered milk, and the vending machine where the kit kats are more expensive than the local shop.