Reply to: Whats the Worst that Can Happen?

[perplexed]

Well if you have a MOO clause in your contract, contractually you are not obliged to accept any work. Whether you have outstanding deliverables is another matter or whether that can be argued.

I do wonder if we are on the same project. Big 4, large project, failing badly???

Well that narrows it down...

[northernladyuk]

Apologies in advance, am newbie on the forum - though I have visited a couple of times.

So just to outline my current situation, I am working for one of the alleged big 4; from what I've seen they wouldn't be in anyone's Top 100 - complete disarray.
It initially started out as a 6 month contract (my first contracting gig for 12 years), which has since been extended for another 4 months.

Why I extended, I don't know because I really don't like it there - my manager is an absolute nightmare, micro-manages, is very politically minded, is rude and has the memory of a goldfish; so I'm constantly explaining things over and over again - I'm not exactly doing what I was brought in to do, and they could have gotten someone with less experience to boss about.
The day rate is good but for me, there has to be more.
Unfortunately for them, there is nobody else who knows the intricacies of the account as well as I do - that's how this place operates, so I wouldn't really want to conduct a handover, as I never got one when I started.

Am I being too vindictive by wanting to see them fall flat, and leaving them in a mess.
My notice period is 4 weeks but I'm telling potential roles that its only a week, so............whats the worst that can happen if I go without working any notice (1 week minimum)

Can you go direct?

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

Apologies in advance, am newbie on the forum - though I have visited a couple of times.

So just to outline my current situation, I am working for one of the alleged big 4; from what I've seen they wouldn't be in anyone's Top 100 - complete disarray.
It initially started out as a 6 month contract (my first contracting gig for 12 years), which has since been extended for another 4 months.

Why I extended, I don't know because I really don't like it there - my manager is an absolute nightmare, micro-manages, is very politically minded, is rude and has the memory of a goldfish; so I'm constantly explaining things over and over again - I'm not exactly doing what I was brought in to do, and they could have gotten someone with less experience to boss about.
The day rate is good but for me, there has to be more.
Unfortunately for them, there is nobody else who knows the intricacies of the account as well as I do - that's how this place operates, so I wouldn't really want to conduct a handover, as I never got one when I started.

Am I being too vindictive by wanting to see them fall flat, and leaving them in a mess.
My notice period is 4 weeks but I'm telling potential roles that its only a week, so............whats the worst that can happen if I go without working any notice (1 week minimum)

They could just not pay you any money owed. Also on your next contract you can't use the agency / client as a reference - People do ask, though not always. Plus everyone that knows you on that site will remember the way you just walked out and will relay that story when asked what they think to you - Till the end of your career. Basically it will go, great technically but watch out if he gets the arse he will walk. Also you are leaving a flaming bridge, so you will never be able to go back.

You will lose business at some point in the future, you just won't know when it happens.

For me personally Old Clients / Ex-Colleagues are my number one source of business.

I would also add - Welcome to Contracting - If you think its going to get better, best think again.

[mattfx]

"Never bite the hand that feeds you" - Agents find as work so I don't really see how that can be compared to an abusive relationship. Yeah they make money off of us and yes sometimes they rip us off - that's business. I dare say there have been days where we've all not done a whole lot of work and still billed for it - is that ripping the client off? Guess it depends if you are working on deliverables or signed timesheets, inside or outside of IR35 bla bla bla. Either way, you take my point.

You're probably not wrong about the being angry one day because you left them up a creek and then happy the next because they've found you a new role, though. But personally, in my opinion, I wouldn't want to risk it.

[billybiro]

...you kill a relationship with an agent...

Boo ******** hoo. This is like saying that leaving your abusive partner is "killing a relationship" with your spouse.

And in any case, that same agent will magically forget how you "killed" the relationship if they think you're the right guy for a new role and have already started to see the $$$ in their eyes.

[TheFaQQer]

Why not exercise your right of substitution and bring in someone who can do the job?

[JoJoGabor]

Well if you have a MOO clause in your contract, contractually you are not obliged to accept any work. Whether you have outstanding deliverables is another matter or whether that can be argued.

I do wonder if we are on the same project. Big 4, large project, failing badly????

[SueEllen]

Apologies in advance, am newbie on the forum - though I have visited a couple of times.

So just to outline my current situation, I am working for one of the alleged big 4; from what I've seen they wouldn't be in anyone's Top 100 - complete disarray.
It initially started out as a 6 month contract (my first contracting gig for 12 years), which has since been extended for another 4 months.

Why I extended, I don't know because I really don't like it there - my manager is an absolute nightmare, micro-manages, is very politically minded, is rude and has the memory of a goldfish; so I'm constantly explaining things over and over again - I'm not exactly doing what I was brought in to do, and they could have gotten someone with less experience to boss about.

They don't have a memory of a goldfish they are simply thick.

Hence send them the email as well and tell them politely I sent you an email on x date with the explanation.

I had a PM like that a few years ago. He drove me up the wall so I gave my notice in and helped hire my replacement. I then bumped into my replacement a couple of years back, and had to apologise for dumping them in it as it took them a couple of weeks to work out why I left. They only lasted 3 months as the PM drove them up the wall as well.

Oh and nowadays it is part of your role to share relevant knowledge that way when you do a handover you simply say here are the documents, and persons y and z have been briefed on a and b.

[gables]

Apologies in advance, am newbie on the forum - though I have visited a couple of times.

So just to outline my current situation, I am working for one of the alleged big 4; from what I've seen they wouldn't be in anyone's Top 100 - complete disarray.
It initially started out as a 6 month contract (my first contracting gig for 12 years), which has since been extended for another 4 months.

Why I extended, I don't know because I really don't like it there - my manager is an absolute nightmare, micro-manages, is very politically minded, is rude and has the memory of a goldfish; so I'm constantly explaining things over and over again - I'm not exactly doing what I was brought in to do, and they could have gotten someone with less experience to boss about.
The day rate is good but for me, there has to be more.
Unfortunately for them, there is nobody else who knows the intricacies of the account as well as I do - that's how this place operates, so I wouldn't really want to conduct a handover, as I never got one when I started.

Sounds perfect, nothing like client madness to keep a contract going

[northernladuk]

FFS! I started current gig in May. 3 weeks in I got given 4 weeks notice. 2 weeks after that they wanted me back.

As a permie I got made redundant 18 months in. Despite being told my skills were very hard to find when I joined.

I will treat contracts and employers the way they treat me.

Indeed but it's PCs poor attitude that he calls agents and clients names for doing it to him but think he thinks he's smart and clever when he does it. He just sounds like a moaning permie all the time. It's just business.

[BrilloPad]

Is that the same as don't go signing a contract agreeing to a notice period and then go changing your mind?

FFS! I started current gig in May. 3 weeks in I got given 4 weeks notice. 2 weeks after that they wanted me back.

As a permie I got made redundant 18 months in. Despite being told my skills were very hard to find when I joined.

I will treat contracts and employers the way they treat me.

[northernladuk]

Is that the same as don't go signing a contract agreeing to a notice period and then go changing your mind?

[BrilloPad]

What's the worst that could happen? He could kill you.

https://m.ranker.com/list/bosses-who...ike-rothschild

Far worse would be taking another role sitting between NLUK and PC......

[psychocandy]

Not really. You introduced a risk by having a notice period. The client got a better contractor that could start immediately which was obviously a key requirement. You'd do but not ideal but someone ideal came up.
We've been saying forever a client waiting for your notice introduces a massive risk and roles can and often do evaporate.
It's unfortunate but there is a good chance it was going to happen. It wasn't bang out of order.
You've admitting you blagged the notice period. That's bang in order is it? You can't piss a client around and then complain when you get pissed about back.
Absolutely nothing to do with dodging a bullet. It's your fault for expecting a client to wait. Period.

And WTF does this brain fart have to do with the OPs question?

Client knew full well I was on a notice period and, we discussed this on the phone when they offered me the position. We agreed I would go away and try and sort out an end date and get back to them. They said yes this was good because they could wait for 3 weeks max.

They knew full well I was going to my client with this. Fair enough they might have found someone who could start immediately after they spoke to me. Point is 1) Don't go offering and then changing your mind 2) Fair enough requirements change but have the balls to call up the person and let them know.

They probably found someone a few days later and thought OK we'll have him instead because he can start straight away. At no point though, did they phone me and say sorry we need someone to start asap and since you can't do it we'll have to pass. They didnt - they let me continue down the path and then told me when I'd sorted it all out. This is out of order.

OPs original question - I was pointing out that once you go to a client and tell them you want to leave its sometimes final even if the new gig falls through. It was for me pretty much.

(Alls well that ends well though. Client manager in question (via one of the junior managers)phoned me a week after I'd started new gig to ask me if I could come back because they realised they needed to get a project done. Umm no thanks I'm ok here. He was a bit peed off apparently and assumed I'd come back.)

[mattfx]

I should add said business is now drying up, their support / project work clients have all gone elsewhere since the incident, and they've shrunk by about 30% in terms of people with further shrinkage incoming. Can't say i'm at all sad about that.

EDIT: Should also add, very small business, only 20 people in it to begin with when we were there...