Reply to: Contract Turned into a Nightmare

[WordIsBond]

In two weeks, likely, we'll know if Brexit is happening or delayed. Chances are that within three weeks people will start hiring to the new reality, whatever it is, and opportunities start to open up. Your horizon is not three months, forget that. You need to stick this out for 2-3 weeks and then look around to see what's available.

Remember, your three remaining months could drop you into January with a new Brexit deadline impending and no one looking to take on a contractor. So stick it out until November, and then make a move. I don't think it makes sense to just live with it, from what you've said.

As far as what move you make, I see three options:
1. Find a new contract, and leave.
2. Leave without a new contract.
3. Ask for a meeting with the guy and say, 'I'm getting the sense from things you say that you aren't happy with my work. If you want me to give notice, I will.' If you do this, it may change things. He may say, 'Yes, go,' or he may say, 'No, you are fine.'

If you just ask him to be nicer, it's probably not in his makeup to do that. If you offer to go and he says he wants you to stay, he may be nicer because he may respect you for it. But he might be just as horrible as he has been all along, even if he says he wants you to stay. If that happens it will be easier to live with it because you'll know it is just him.

If you offer to go and he says yes, and you offer to help with handover, he's not all that likely to damage your reputation. You might be over-worrying on that point, though. If you've built a good reputation, and one guy says bad things about you, and he's the type of person you say he is, he may not have a lot of credibility in the industry. People get indications, even if they don't work for someone.

But other than keeping your eyes open for a new contract, I wouldn't do anything right now. Stick it out for a few weeks to get past the Brexit noise. There are quite a few people in your industry quite concerned about that. Whatever happens, they'll adjust and be looking forward again in 3 weeks.

The advantage to waiting is that A) you can live with a lot if it is just three weeks and B) after three weeks, you'll only be risking a couple months of revenue if you leave or offer to.

[Snooky]

One thing you could try is to ask for a very short meeting with the MD to review your progress.

If he has genuine issues which are surfacing in these public putdowns, it gives you the opportunity to discuss them and come to some type of plan for resolution. If says he's completely happy with what you're doing, you can say "That's great to hear, I asked for the meeting because I was concerned I wasn't meeting your needs as you sometimes criticise me in meetings (or whatever)".

Most likely he's just not a very diplomatic person, everyone else also recognises it and takes his putdowns with a very large pinch of salt. Or possibly, you're not doing what he wants but he's no good at actually telling you that. Either way, a brief status review may help to get to the bottom of it and you relationship may improve after that bout of honesty.

The third option is that he's just a pr*ck, in which case you start looking for something else while you smile sweetly and keep invoicing.

[edison]

Thanks for all the support on here. To give you context it’s a PE company in the financial services industry. The board are very short term and money motivated, which I understand, but it does drive a toxic environment. You learn something in every contract, for me, PE is not for me I guess.

One thing I’ve found is that it’s such a small world in my field, so much as I’d like to shout back and storm out of this one, the market isn’t great and I don’t think I have enough to last a long gap, but more importantly for me, my reputation has been hard fought for over many years. Wouldn’t take much for this MD to put the word out and destroy that.

That said, I really have no choice but to endure for the next 2/3 months and then not renew, but hope another opportunity presents in the meantime.

I think you've partly answered your own question there. Private Equity and Financial Services is unlikely to be a forgiving combination. Given you're reporting to the MD in a PE venture, I assume you've come in as an interim on a day rate of £800-1000 plus?

Unfortunately if you're in a very niche area then as you're implying, your reputation could be easily trashed by the MD. Also, looking at it from the MD's side, if you were to leave now, it could take them a while to find a replacement. Think about some of the strategies suggested above to mitigate the short term pain.

I'm aware of several interim providers who do a lot of PE work and from what I can tell it's one of the brighter spots in the market (not saying much.) Maybe avoid PE next time?

[cojak]

Thanks for all the support on here. To give you context it’s a PE company in the financial services industry. The board are very short term and money motivated, which I understand, but it does drive a toxic environment. You learn something in every contract, for me, PE is not for me I guess.

One thing I’ve found is that it’s such a small world in my field, so much as I’d like to shout back and storm out of this one, the market isn’t great and I don’t think I have enough to last a long gap, but more importantly for me, my reputation has been hard fought for over many years. Wouldn’t take much for this MD to put the word out and destroy that.

That said, I really have no choice but to endure for the next 2/3 months and then not renew, but hope another opportunity presents in the meantime.

Good for you The Grass Is Greener.

You'll find that with this internal decision made, the next 2-3 months will be a bit easier for you as you can see a light at the end of tunnel.

Sit down over the weekend (with a glass of wine!) and plan out your strategy for the next 8-12 weeks (see? that sounds better already!). Both with the work and how you are going to deal with the MD/situation. Preparation helps you physically and mentally.

You are a Director, now direct yourself to a dignified exit strategy - you can do it!

[The Grass Is Greener]

Thanks for all the support on here. To give you context it’s a PE company in the financial services industry. The board are very short term and money motivated, which I understand, but it does drive a toxic environment. You learn something in every contract, for me, PE is not for me I guess.

One thing I’ve found is that it’s such a small world in my field, so much as I’d like to shout back and storm out of this one, the market isn’t great and I don’t think I have enough to last a long gap, but more importantly for me, my reputation has been hard fought for over many years. Wouldn’t take much for this MD to put the word out and destroy that.

That said, I really have no choice but to endure for the next 2/3 months and then not renew, but hope another opportunity presents in the meantime.

[LadyPenelope]

I get really annoyed when people say I do this just for tax breaks and money - its probably about 3rd and 4th on the list and then I go back to drinking my champagne lunch...

Haha! We do kind of get used to being better off. which goes some way to explain their reluctance to hire us for permanent jobs.

It's worth standing up to the person, but this can go either way: some people will forever respect you and others will never forgive you. It's often worthwhile though in terms of self-respect.

[dx4100]

Ahaha! If only more people understood this is why contractors like contracting. Honestly, this is the major benefit of it, moreso than the additional money (which doesn't hurt of course).

OP, lots of sensible advice on here. It's never worth risking with one's mental & physical health, so long as you can manage financially for a few months. The market seems to be picking up a little at last too.

I get really annoyed when people say I do this just for tax breaks and money - its probably about 3rd and 4th on the list!!! ....then I go back to drinking my champagne lunch...

[LadyPenelope]

Well most of us contract for the ability to get away from toxic roles but you've closed the door on the only option you've got besides growing some and getting on with it.

IMO it's only gong to get worse so for you own sanity you are going to have to make the jump at sometime. People are the hardest to change and you are only a temp resource at the end of the day so only so much you can do before you get the push.

As much as you don't like to, I'd be getting ready for an exit at some point in the near future.

I've been in a gig I hated and ended up leaving on the spot. Looking back it was the best thing I ever did.

Ahaha! If only more people understood this is why contractors like contracting. Honestly, this is the major benefit of it, moreso than the additional money (which doesn't hurt of course).

OP, lots of sensible advice on here. It's never worth risking with one's mental & physical health, so long as you can manage financially for a few months. The market seems to be picking up a little at last too.

Re having to 'grow a pair' or be tough-minded to do this job: I've had conversations with a couple of agents who think anyone with a contract history must be tough as nails and therefore would survive the role in the 'challenging environment' they have on their books. Not so for many of us and even if you could get through it, why should you have to unless there is a financial imperative.

[dx4100]

Personally if someone attacked my work on a professional level and it was unfair then I would see this as a very serious matter and immediately have it out with them. I am there on a B2B basis and if my work is being questioned by the client then its needs resolving asap. The outcome of that conversation is the issue being resolved or me out of the door as I can't work on a B2B if the client is unhappy and is never going to be happy.

If you are stuck for financial reasons then find another contract ASAP and the exercise any notice period in the contract.

Either way, you only have three months left on the gig - you can't extent to be honest in the current climate. Make sure you stockpile money to enable an exit soon. Lesson to learn is you need a war chest in this game so you can exit companies and you can take breaks from the market when no work is forthcoming.

By the way I am also sensitive, I also don't like conflict, I am no alpha male type. The idea you have to "grow a set" to do this job is nonsense. But you do need options to move on when required and you do need to be prepared to have a difficult conversation and ultimately move on when you are in the wrong place.

Good luck

[edison]

I'd agree with this, but... is he doing the same to any permanent members of staff that you could encourage to go to HR to raise their own issues with him?

I suppose he could try that. I worked on a large consulting assignment where the Managing Consultant was being unreasonable with quite a lot of the other consultants. Everyone was too junior/scared to raise it until two of the senior consultants got together and raised it with the Partner who was in charge overall. In that case it worked, so maybe strength in numbers is an option.

OP, it might help if you could tell us the type/size of company?

[Paralytic]

And don't bother speaking to HR. You're not an employee and they are unlikely to back you in any conflict with the MD.

I'd agree with this, but... is he doing the same to any permanent members of staff that you could encourage to go to HR to raise their own issues with him?

[edison]

I've been in a similar situation as you in my late 40s. I'm generally a very easy going person but have had to toughen up over the last six years since I started contracting. It's a fact of working life that some people will be bullies or sociopaths, treat people badly or are just difficult to work with.

Maybe you could ask the MD for some feedback next time he puts your down and if he has no evidence or facts to back him up, I would politely push back and challenge him. He might not even be that self aware that he's acting like this. If he's feeling pressure, is there anything you can do to help him? He might respond positively.

Or is there another senior person you get on well with who you could enlist the support of as an ally? I had to do that once at a client and eventually ended up being taken out of the line of fire and given a new project which I ended up really enjoying.

If you can't address this head on in some fashion due to fear, you need to consider if you can operate at such a senior level long term. People who are Director level generally didn't get there by being shy, retiring wallflowers. They are usually driven and demanding. Some are pleasant about it, some aren't.

And don't bother speaking to HR. You're not an employee and they are unlikely to back you in any conflict with the MD.

[eddie1507]

I feel your pain .. but we do this job on a B2B basis ...

Leave if possible if not hold it out for a couple of months and within the last few weeks voice your concerns to him .. at least you can leave think of the permies

Sent from my LYA-L09 using Contractor UK Forum mobile app

[BlueSharp]

Obviously nothing is worth damaging your mental health for so start looking for something else. Your coming up to the 3 month run out now which will fly by and allow you to fixate on surviving the last few months. Otherwise accept there are somethings you can't change in the role and smile and nod while clocking up how much you're billing this clown while he rants and raves.

[krytonsheep]

The MD may not know what effect he's having, if he did you'd hope he wouldn't be doing it. Instead of going for a direct confrontation which may make him go defensive, you could say some thing like 'my wife / friend is having issues with their boss, he keeps putting them down in front of people, what do you think they should do?'. The other option is to consider every put down / bad interaction from him as a 'gift', you can decide whether you accept that gift or not.