My permie has arrived. Should I make a honorable exit?

[AnthonyQuinn]

Hi, My permie replacement has arrived. But I have another 2 months in my contract left. Having spent a decent enough time in this gig, it looks like my manager has given me an polite indication to leave as soon as the handover is complete.

I have nothing lined-up yet.

Should I wait for the contract period to be over or, make a honorable early exit as soon as the permie is up-to speed? What would make me look more professional?

hang in there and keep billing. this is the best time of your career. You abandoned all pretense to honour when you went contracting :-)

[Eirikur]

This happened in a contract that finished a year ago. Permie replacement arrived, still had 6 weeks or so to go. Got another contract the same week he arrived and was gone a week later. Permie and loads of others in the same team were made redundant 3 months later.

[meridian]

I somehow doubt training the replacement permie is written in the schedule of defined deliverables. The fact you are being replaced with a permie implies that there probably isn't a defined deliverable..

That wasn't my main point. The OP needs to be careful of D&C, and to bear in mind that s/he potentially has a contract that runs for two more months but with no work being provided by the client. They need to read their contract and talk to their client, not just hang about and hope they can carry on invoicing.

[oscarose]

Hi, My permie replacement has arrived. But I have another 2 months in my contract left. Having spent a decent enough time in this gig, it looks like my manager has given me an polite indication to leave as soon as the handover is complete.

I have nothing lined-up yet.

Should I wait for the contract period to be over or, make a honorable early exit as soon as the permie is up-to speed? What would make me look more professional?

2 month handover sounds ideal; chill.

[eek]

Ah, sorry, I thought you asked what a contractor would do, but it turns out that everyone here is a bum-on-seat temporary employee that will wait for the client to say that it's okay to go home, rather than relying on defined deliverables...

I somehow doubt training the replacement permie is written in the schedule of defined deliverables. The fact you are being replaced with a permie implies that there probably isn't a defined deliverable..

[meridian]

Ah, sorry, I thought you asked what a contractor would do, but it turns out that everyone here is a bum-on-seat temporary employee that will wait for the client to say that it's okay to go home, rather than relying on defined deliverables...

[TheFaQQer]

Hang on, what does your contract say, what are the terms that you can or they can give notice?

This - if your contract does not allow you to give notice then it's a moot point anyway.

If it does, then discuss with the client what their plans are once the handover is complete, and weigh up whether it's worth you giving notice. If it doesn't, then it's up to them to terminate the contract when they want / need to.

[jmo21]

Having spent a decent enough time in this gig, it looks like my manager has given me an polite indication to leave as soon as the handover is complete.

Was he as cryptic with you as that is for us?

If he wants you gone, they will terminate your contract, he doesn't need to politely indicate you should leave.

As others have said, get your head down, provide the handover, and wait for them to terminate the contract. Shake the client's (not manager) hand and wish him/her all the best. Leave contact details in case they have any little queries after you've left.

[BrilloPad]

1. Keep invoicing.
2. Do as little as possible.
3. Keep invoicing.
4. Brush up on old skills
5. Keep invoicing.
6. Learn new skills.
7. Keep invoicing.
8. Keep looking for something else.
9. Keep invoicing.

[tomtomagain]

Talk to the manager. Explicitly ask "Do you have any requirement for me in your organization after x has completed the handover".

If he says "No". Then say "Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to work with you all. I hope you have found my work to your satisfaction".


Then update your CV and start looking for a new role. Don't explain that you will be looking for a new role.

Under no circumstance look to exit your contract early until you have found a new role.

If they no longer need you then they should have a clause in the contract to allow them to give you notice. Make them take that route rather than making it easy for the manager by offering to finish early.

Keep turning up. Keep smiling and most importantly keep invoicing.

[FatLazyContractor]

I'd presume that the OP is in control of the situation from a contract POV, but wants suggestions on what's "moral". I'd personally look at my finances/warchest and play the game.

If you expect more business from this client in the future, do the "honorable" thing, provide the knowledge transfer and leave on excellent terms.

[meridian]

What does your Statement of Work / Deliverables say?

If by completing the handover you have completed your deliverables, then your contract is complete. Check that it's complete with whoever signs off on these things, and if there's anything more in the pipeline that you might be interested in, but this should form a new Statement of Work.

[SimonMac]

Hi, My permie replacement has arrived. But I have another 2 months in my contract left. Having spent a decent enough time in this gig, it looks like my manager has given me an polite indication to leave as soon as the handover is complete.

I have nothing lined-up yet.

Should I wait for the contract period to be over or, make a honorable early exit as soon as the permie is up-to speed? What would make me look more professional?

What does your accountant say?

Hang on, what does your contract say, what are the terms that you can or they can give notice?

[Arnie365]

Hi, My permie replacement has arrived. But I have another 2 months in my contract left. Having spent a decent enough time in this gig, it looks like my manager has given me an polite indication to leave as soon as the handover is complete.

I have nothing lined-up yet.

Should I wait for the contract period to be over or, make a honorable early exit as soon as the permie is up-to speed? What would make me look more professional?