Reply to: Perm to contract - what would you do?

[Bluenose]

Just work the three months, if you are going to get a decent reference from line manager.

If reference have been blown, I would work out if any real damage would be done to company or project if I walked earlier and use that as my yardstick.

If lots of damage would be done I would be inclined to stick it out regardless. If the project is well resourced for your function, find a contract and walk under the assumption that there will be some short term financial pain until first invoice comes through.

With regards to the question of whether you should have asked to be converted from perm to contract (way back in 2003), I have asked for this to done this myself and seen it done where companies generally pay below-market perm wages as a method of retaining specialists. I failed in my own quest to do this as my skills were not niche enough at the time and just ended up leaving.

[SueEllen]

Possible but unlikely.

Actually know people it's happened to.

What was more amusing was that one was an identical twin and it clearly wasn't him. If the person knew either one of them better and actually spoke to his brother they would have worked this out.

Never happened in the entire history of mankind.

Again I know people who it's happened to. Not all companies respect people's private lives.

You've just left to start a new contract, remember ? Meh...

You are still legally employed by that company so they can do you for gross misconduct and sack you even though you are already contracting.

You can have more than one employer at one time and also work in more than one way at once.

[Underbase]

My thoughts exactly....

I wonder, since when is 1 month the most that is enforceable? Every permi banking contract I have seen starts at 3 months and goes up to 6 for higher positions. I would have thought banks lawyers would know what they are doing. I am unlikely to complain of course as they sent me home for mine and kept paying me. Nothing like a summer off on full pay, and a letter telling me I MUST NOT WORK.

[SussexSeagull]

Would try and complete the work but not if it risks the next contract.

[lukemg]

I would walk but I am not telling you to do that. I would have a chat with line manager first, try to get a reasonable outcome, they dont want you there annoying everyone and a month is more then enough to pass most stuff on, even for jobs when people think they are 'essential' to everything.
When these people get sick the gap just gets filled.
If they just stonewall and play hardball, I would just walk, start the new contract and turn off my phone.
They might cause you trouble but personally I would doubt they would bother BUT your attitude to risk might be different....

[cosmos]

Simple typo. Now fixed.

[northernladuk]

My thoughts exactly....

[LondonManc]

Wow. Why are people on here so sanctimonious and condescending to new posters asking for genuine advice like the OP? Sure he may not know everything about contracting right now but what has this got to do with the help he was after?



I’d go seek the advice of an employment solicitor. AFAIK three months isn’t legally enforceable as the statutory maximum they can enforce is three months? Sure you can’t expect to get paid for the full term but I don’t think they have any recourse if you don’t…

[cosmos]

Wow. Why are people on here so sanctimonious and condescending to new posters asking for genuine advice like the OP? Sure he may not know everything about contracting right now but what has this got to do with the help he was after?



I’d go seek the advice of an employment solicitor. AFAIK three months isn’t legally enforceable as the statutory maximum they can enforce is one month. Sure you can’t expect to get paid for the full term but I don’t think they have any recourse if you don’t…

[TheFaQQer]

Never happened in the entire history of mankind.

Bilge.

[Boo]

- Get seen by some random person in the office at supermarket, night out, etc
- Random person "innocently" tells someone else

Possible but unlikely.

- Get telephoned/visited because HR are "concerned" about you

Never happened in the entire history of mankind.

- Get done for gross misconduct and sacked

You've just left to start a new contract, remember ? Meh...

Boo2

[LondonManc]

Truthfully, yes. Relying on 20 years with long service, excellent reputation and a leap of faith. I've got the bug, and the pragmatic view that everyone needs to start somewhere . Plus, I keep looking at my perm daily rate, compared to contract daily rate - apples and pears I know, but....

If day rate is you're main reason for going contracting, you're doing it for the wrong reason. Financially the rewards can be good, but similarly if you're benched for six months it can be stressful.

Consultancy may be a safer option initially.

[SueEllen]

1. Get paid
2. Go sick
3. Start contract
4. If contract pans out stay with that
5. Else go back to work

Boo

- Get seen by some random person in the office at supermarket, night out, etc
- Random person "innocently" tells someone else
- Get telephoned/visited because HR are "concerned" about you
- Get done for gross misconduct and sacked

The problem is a 3 month notice period is too long to risk this sort of behave over especially as the OP told them he wanted to leave.

Oh and if you, OP, do get sick in that time period or have some other misfortune get third party official evidence.

[SimonMac]

Oh, and good luck!

[SimonMac]

Unless you have a bum on seat you don't "have" your contract, there are dozens of examples where its fallen through at the last minute