Contractors and work politics

[Qazim2003]

I have been in a similar situation. I was a lot more capable and experienced than everyone in my team yet the team lead made petty comments on code reviews and minor changes on design decisions just to assert his authority.

Sadly the entire organisation was full of mediocre people and senior managers were more concerned with keeping their jobs than actually doing them.

Assuming the rate is good keep taking the money until your fingers start bleeding then use the other hand.

You might not like the following answer, but even when I worked a perm member of staff, I worked all hours, never took illness when I was ill, came out of surgery and straight into work because I feel I need to earn my money. Being on a high wage and doing little work makes me feel uneasy. As strange as that may sound, given I am now a contractor, it just how my brain is wired.

[WTFH]

I just re-read your question here. Note to self - dont reply on phone when just waking up.

The 6 month extension I have been given is with Company B (where I am having the work politics).

Since feeling uneasy - I thought it would prudent to start looking elsewhere in case this go down hill and they decide they wont see out my 6 months. I have seen a lot of roles which require SC clearance and put my name in for a role which I have a strong chance for and since company B is telling me my SC is inactive its put me in a limbo. Given how things have went, I am beginning to question whether company B know what they are doing at all. I hope that makes more sense on how the two threads are related?

OK, is company A & company B the end clients?
Are you working through an agency?
When did you finish with company A?
Is the clearance level the same for both jobs?
Was your previous SC done when you were a permanent employee of company A?

And… is this government security clearance (e.g. MoD/Police), or private company security clearance (e.g. Lloyds Bank)

[Fraidycat]

Well here is the strange things, I have just been given another 6 months to my contract as the head or the department Is keen for me to stay in this team. I believe they are aware of the volatile nature of the team. Would you suggest I just get away from it still?

The head of department has his own priorities. I have seen contractors kept around with no real work to do. Just because it didn't suit the managers to not renew them at that point of the project.

Keep invoicing but look for something else. It is not easy, because we lack motivation compared to when we know bench time is imminent or are already on the bench. The easy thing to do is just coast along.

[vetran]

OK, is company A & company B the end clients?
Are you working through an agency?
When did you finish with company A?
Is the clearance level the same for both jobs?
Was your previous SC done when you were a permanent employee of company A?

And… is this government security clearance (e.g. MoD/Police), or private company security clearance (e.g. Lloyds Bank)

OH FFS as some people I met in the pub told me the first rule of security clearance is..... We don't talk and most definitely don't post about security clearance.

[sadkingbilly]

OH FFS as some people I met in the pub told me the first rule of security clearance is..... We don't talk and most definitely don't post about security clearance.

yeh, - right!

[malvolio]

yeh, - right!

He is, actually, at least for government and related clients. Revealing you have clearance is a breach of the OSA. You're not even supposed to wear your pass outside a secure area (yeah, I know, tell it to the many knobs around Whitehall).

Finance and the other commercials can do what they like.

[vetran]

yeh, - right!

oh look from the horses mouth, not its ARSE

https://assets.publishing.service.go...Networking.pdf

[sadkingbilly]

He is, actually, at least for government and related clients. Revealing you have clearance is a breach of the OSA. You're not even supposed to wear your pass outside a secure area (yeah, I know, tell it to the many knobs around Whitehall).

Finance and the other commercials can do what they like.

my comment was on the bold bit.
he's pathologically incapable of 'don't post'

[northernladuk]

I have recently become a contractor and prior to that always kept away from work politics. I find myself in an unusual situation where I have become the centre of work politics at my new place and I am finding it very difficult to handle.

First 6 months I have come and and delivered work beyond anyone's expectations and a lot of promising feedback was coming my way.

1 more month on and a new delivery lead and an individual, vying for the role I currently hold, are colluding to push me to the sidelines. E.g keeping me out loop for conversations which I should be a part of for my work, pushing my tasks to this individual wanting my role, almost not speaking to me! It is stopping me from doing my job and is effectively making me look redundant.

Is this common or have I just been unlucky?

If permis are fighting for your role we assume you are inside then?

Can't blame the perms for trying to push the contractor out. That's understandable. I've been in a ton of roles where the analysts looking to move up the chain would like the role I'm doing but it's rarely a perm role anyway so it's not an option for them. Because of that I've never had situations where I'm being pressured to fight for my work. It's to be expected but you've fallen unlucky that they are actively pressuring you. Bound to happen from time to time though so just part of the game.

I'd say time to move on. It's only going to get worse. This is one of the downsides of contracting, the other is you can just leave when a role becomes untenable. It's going to happen from time to time for one reason or another, crap work, face doesn't fit, conflict, work not as described, IR35 status in jeopardy etc. A decent contractor will put up for a bit IMO, you have got to expect it's tougher being a contractor than a perm but there is a point where it starts to make you miserable so it's time to go.

Has B told you outright your security clearance is no longer valid? Have you spoken to their security team to confirm? Your clearance should have been transfered to them from whoever held it last but it does expire if not used for a period. It also isn't always valid at all gigs. Police might not accept an MOD clearnance and so on. Speak to the client security team who will tell you teh status. If it has lapsed or is no langer valid then there is little point applying for SC gigs anymore. Very very few clients are willing to put contractors back through the process so it can be a very closed shop.

[Qazim2003]

If permis are fighting for your role we assume you are inside then?

Can't blame the perms for trying to push the contractor out. That's understandable. I've been in a ton of roles where the analysts looking to move up the chain would like the role I'm doing but it's rarely a perm role anyway so it's not an option for them. Because of that I've never had situations where I'm being pressured to fight for my work. It's to be expected but you've fallen unlucky that they are actively pressuring you. Bound to happen from time to time though so just part of the game.

I'd say time to move on. It's only going to get worse. This is one of the downsides of contracting, the other is you can just leave when a role becomes untenable. It's going to happen from time to time for one reason or another, crap work, face doesn't fit, conflict, work not as described, IR35 status in jeopardy etc. A decent contractor will put up for a bit IMO, you have got to expect it's tougher being a contractor than a perm but there is a point where it starts to make you miserable so it's time to go.

Has B told you outright your security clearance is no longer valid? Have you spoken to their security team to confirm? Your clearance should have been transfered to them from whoever held it last but it does expire if not used for a period. It also isn't always valid at all gigs. Police might not accept an MOD clearnance and so on. Speak to the client security team who will tell you teh status. If it has lapsed or is no langer valid then there is little point applying for SC gigs anymore. Very very few clients are willing to put contractors back through the process so it can be a very closed shop.

They confirmed to me 3 months into my role that the SC was inactive and just got me to sign a document to say I will not say anything about my work. Working within IR and previously was perm.