Would you?

[tino]

When I took the contract my wife was less heavily pregnant and thought she could cope. Chuck in a house move (that wasn't on the cards when I took the contract - and is a necessity) and the circumstances have changed for me. There are quite a few here sharing that ivory tower aren't there.

For info, one of the contractors here just got canned through no fault of her own. She was made the fall guy for an administrative cock up that was nothing to do with her. She had tried to point the problem out but had been ignored, and was canned while on holiday in Florida with her family. That was a nice call to receive! Then ClientCo refused to give her a reason for getting rid. Just ignored her calls. I found out through the grapevine what had happened.

You don't have to rationalise your reasons to anyone on here mate.

I've taken 3 months on away from home and at the start of the gig was told that it would more than likely be possible once things were bedded in to run this from home, this has been pulled from under me now as the Programme Director (my contact) is old fashioned and likes people to be in the office, regardless of the fact HE isn't there on a Monday or Friday.

Renewal time WILL be interesting

[The Lone Gunman]

Yadda, yadda yadda, whinge moan whine. My arse bleeds for you all.

We all have our sob stories to tell, I have my fair share, but I am commited to presenting a professional attitude and delivering on the promises I made. 10 years in and never let a client down.

If you cant live up to your commitments then get out of contracting. Stop dragging me down.

[tino]

Yadda, yadda yadda, whinge moan whine. My arse bleeds for you all.

We all have our sob stories to tell, I have my fair share, but I am commited to presenting a professional attitude and delivering on the promises I made. 10 years in and never let a client down.

If you cant live up to your commitments then get out of contracting. Stop dragging me down.

I bow to your superior client pleasing attitude, now if you don't mind, I have a home life to maintain

[Mich the Tester]

Yadda, yadda yadda, whinge moan whine. My arse bleeds for you all.

We all have our sob stories to tell, I have my fair share, but I am commited to presenting a professional attitude and delivering on the promises I made. 10 years in and never let a client down.

If you cant live up to your commitments then get out of contracting. Stop dragging me down.

posting on CUK

I'd say you should show your arse to a proctologist if it's bleeding

[Doggy Styles]

I just thought I'd chime in. I agree with Tino, Rookie and SA. And for the record I would do everything I could to not inconvenience ClientCo. Full professional handovers. In all truth there is nothing that I am that heavily into, all little snaggy bits. There is sizable work coming up, so if there was a "good" time to go then this is it.

I don't know how much work there is elsewhere in your field, but the remaining 9 months of your contract does have its upside - it should see you through some difficult times for contractors. I'm reminded of the value of my contract every day, as I walk to my clientco past the JobCentre.

There are plenty of people on the bench at the moment - some posting on here. I assume, with your young family, that is a place you'd like to avoid.

Some people on here have little difficulty finding work because their skills are always in demand. If that doesn't apply to you, think twice before taking their advice when they tell you to jack it in.

[Rookie]

Yadda, yadda yadda, whinge moan whine. My arse bleeds for you all.

We all have our sob stories to tell, I have my fair share, but I am commited to presenting a professional attitude and delivering on the promises I made. 10 years in and never let a client down.

If you cant live up to your commitments then get out of contracting. Stop dragging me down.

Hats off to The Lone Gunman. He's been contracting for 10 years and now his arse bleeds.

I don't know what I been told....

[The Lone Gunman]

It is attitudes like those displayed by you lot that are causing more and more clients to turn away from individual freelancers for the security of a B2B contract with a head lease or offshore company.
If you want a safe secure home life then get a proper job with a local business.
If you want to be in business then behave like it. Put your clients needs first. There are very few business men (or women) who have both a home life and a successful business.
If you are lucky enough to have found that balance then good for you, but you are an exception (or a perma temp).
If they do not commit to the business then they fail.
The problem in our industry is that it is so easy for fly by nights to trash the reputation of the rest of us.
The amount of times I have had to reassure clients because of numpties like you lot is ridiculous.

[oracleslave]

If you are looking for sympathy it can be found in a dictionary between tulip and syphilis.
I am miffed about clients dropping rates and etc during the current economic climate, but that is their perogative.

Just like it is my perogative to make the best decisions for me and myco.

You accepted a 12 monther when your wife was heavily pregnant and had a small child to look after. You made that commiment knowing your circumstances so honour it.

Circumstances change, whether they be for myco or clientco. I reserve the right to make decisions based upon the circumstances I am faced with. Just like clientco does when they terminate my contract early if the work runs out.

It is not just your reputation and business you are damaging, but mine and everyone elses here. It is hard enough in the current climate to find work without clients being antagonised by contractors not honouring their contracts.

If you are looking for sympathy it can be found in a dictionary between tulip and syphilis.

[DodgyAgent]

He's not doing it for more money or solely because it's closer to home, it's putting strain on his family life and he has an impending new arrival. Both of these things are more important than any contract, don't you agree?

DA - do you have kids?

So why did he take it in the first place if he had no intention of fulfilling the contract?

I have enough kids to understand the benefits of being away from home

[tino]

So why did he take it in the first place if he had no intention of fulfilling the contract?

I have enough kids to understand the benefits of being away from home

As I said, I'm sure he had his reasons, and he's now put them in this thread - it wouldn't have been my decision but hey ho, everyone's different.

Your second point is one we can agree on - although at times it can be incredibly difficult. My time working away is seen by my partner as a jolly and a piss up when I'm actually only pissed part of the time (night time).

What I'm getting at, is that there will always be times when you have to put your personal life above a contract - for instance if it's putting pressure on a relationship.

Lone Gunman, we will agree to disagree - you are wrong though