Reply to: Agency advice

[CONTRACTOR909]

Thank you for your relevant contributions all!

[stek]

twat

Three posts and already fits in here!

Welcome!

[northernladuk]

Lets face it, the agency think you are trying it on, that's why they are pushing for info.

Which is exactly what I thought and another nail in PC's dumb 'pull a sickie' line. End will be the same but won't make it any smoother if the agency want to try this one.

There isn't really an excuse for not handling this one by the book but now the OP hasn't he's just got to manage the fall out. Won't be much to be honest, just needs to pull his finger out and deal with it.

[SueEllen]

Oh and if the agency feel like it they can sue you for breach of contract, and with your attitude e.g. I can't disclose because I don't want to they will win.

[jmo21]

Lets face it, the agency think you are trying it on, that's why they are pushing for info.

If you are not comfortable giving them more info, then don't, but they will probably continue to be suspicious. Many contractors think they can pull sickies to get out of notice period etc (as the many posts on here asking how they can end contracts early proves).

You haven't been very clear to us why you haven't handed in your notice (not what is actually wrong with you, why you haven't just handed in your notice).

Do you think you have to physically be at client co to give them a letter?

[SueEllen]

The only reason the agency want to know is there is a potential they could get into trouble if they just terminate you e.g. if your illness is actually a disability.

As others have pointed out you should have informed the client if you couldn't come in. If you were in hospital you simply say you are in hospital and a vague description of the issue e.g. it's a heart problem. If you were unable to then you should have got someone else e.g. partner, other family member, lodger, housemate to tell them.

Also managers in medium and large companies will have been told about most diseases. Though like everyone no one except you, those close to you and the medical staff treating you will know how ill it is making you.

[kaiser78]

Hi all,

I have been off sick for a few weeks now with quite a personal reason....I have not been able to hand in notice to the end client due to this, I have explained that I am ill and this is why I have not been able to hand in my notice. The agent is asking me to provide a clear justification as to why I cannot return to work but the nature of my illness is quite personal and I feel really uneasy about disclosing details. Any advice?

Instead of explaining that you are ill why not explain that you are handing in your notice, which should be via the agency anyway and not the client ? Easy solved, no ?

[Lance]

Hi all,

I have been off sick for a few weeks now with quite a personal reason....I have not been able to hand in notice to the end client due to this, I have explained that I am ill and this is why I have not been able to hand in my notice. The agent is asking me to provide a clear justification as to why I cannot return to work but the nature of my illness is quite personal and I feel really uneasy about disclosing details. Any advice?

just write the agent something like this.


Dear Agency co.,

Joe Bloggs has been unable to attend the client's site due to poor health. And will not be able to attend in the next few weeks.
We have been unable to find a substitute of the quality that we feel is sufficient to fulfil the obligations of the contract.
Therefore, by this letter we hereby give notice of termination of our contract.
We apologise for any inconvenience and ask that you join us in wishing Joe a speedy recovery.

Yours,
Company LTD name.

[missinggreenfields]

that was my advice, not a summary of your post

Which doesn't make the response given by the OP any less relevant.

[northernladuk]

that was my advice, not a summary of your post

He's certainly got you sussed pretty quickly though lol.

[pr1]

twat

that was my advice, not a summary of your post

[sal]

You were too sick to write an e-mail or make a phone call? In theory giving notice still requires you to fulfil your contract obligations until the end of the notice period, if you can't/don't you might be liable to pay compensation depending on the contract and how the Agency feels about enforcing it.

You don't have to give any details to the agency. Just that the YourCo original resource is no longer available you can quote "medical reasons" if you like. Explaining what actually happen can help with the client/agency letting you "off the hook", as most agents are still human beings.

[northernladuk]

You don't hand notice in to your client. You have no contractual relationship with your client. It's with the agency. Why don't contractors get this?

You work on a T&M basis so there is no need to provide any medical justification. You were unable to work. That's that. They can however terminate you on the spot if you've not contacted them. There will be something in the contract about contacting the agency before X time if you can't come in and you didn't so technically you've breached.

What outcome are you expecting? You wanting to be paid your notice period because that's not going to happen because of clauses in your contract again.

Just tell them you are done. Terminate you on the spot and ask for any payments for days you worked that are outstanding, although good luck with that.

[CONTRACTOR909]

lie

twat

[pr1]

Hi all,

I have been off sick for a few weeks now with quite a personal reason....I have not been able to hand in notice to the end client due to this, I have explained that I am ill and this is why I have not been able to hand in my notice. The agent is asking me to provide a clear justification as to why I cannot return to work but the nature of my illness is quite personal and I feel really uneasy about disclosing details. Any advice?

lie