Contrator Length

[TheFaQQer]

Means your contract is IR35 safe.

Not necessarily. It may help as part of an IR35 defence, but it does not mean that it is IR35 safe. If I had a standard contract of employment, but could not terminate it, it would not be IR35 safe.

As long as you don't just show up to work and do nothing, you'll be fine.

That's not necessarily an IR35 pointer, either. I'm paid to provide expert advice and guidance - during the early phases of testing, there isn't much of this to do, but I need to be available to help out. So, I'm at work, with nothing to do, still IR35 safe.

[shoes]

Is the estimation for the amount of time required too long because the existing staff are bad at their jobs / a bunch of slackers? Don't be too much of a superstar in their eyes, they won't like it. Be better than them so they think it was a good idea to get you in, but don't be as crap as them or worse so they think you aren't worth having. Its a tricky balance. I always do too well in the first couple of weeks, being eager to impress as typically there are people checking you are doing what they want and are capable. You then need to throttle back to just above their capability.

Daily/hourly rate contracting isn't about getting the job done, it's about taking their money. Sad but true! We'd all prefer to live in a 'fixed rate for the job' world but middle management incompetence prevents it.

[bjayakody]

OK at the risk of sounding an even greater noob, why is it good that they can end with no notice.

Means your contract is IR35 safe.

If the company is not a total cowboy outfit, they will just keep you around doing odds and ends to fill out your contract.

I've had a few 3 month contracts where I've finished the work in the first couple of days, then spent the next couple of months finding work for myself.

As long as you don't just show up to work and do nothing, you'll be fine.

[jonahtest2]

[QUOTE=DaveB;303639]Yes. Check your contract. If it's pukka there will be no notice period on the client side. They can ask you to leave on the spot. This is a good thing.

OK at the risk of sounding an even greater noob, why is it good that they can end with no notice.

Failing that spend the next week planning your work load and produce a nice road map to completion with relavent milestones etc that just happens to take 3 months. Present this to your PM. Get every milestone done ahead of schedule and spend the rest of the time posting crap on here. You'll soon get the hang of it

A Sound plan

[DaveB]

thanks for the replies....To make things a little clearer...
The Contract length specifies 3 months...but after being here a week I know the project will be completed within the month...Its extremely basic and they seemed to have seriously overestimated time needed. Will this mean that after the project is finished the company can legally give me notice period and push me out the door...

Thanks All..

Yes. Check your contract. If it's pukka there will be no notice period on the client side. They can ask you to leave on the spot. This is a good thing.

Your task now is to work out how to make that work fill the 3 months they originally estimated. The best way would be to show them how you can "add value" to the project by providing additional functionality etc.

Failing that spend the next week planning your work load and produce a nice road map to completion with relavent milestones etc that just happens to take 3 months. Present this to your PM. Get every milestone done ahead of schedule and spend the rest of the time posting crap on here. You'll soon get the hang of it

[RightLaugh]

thanks for the replies....To make things a little clearer...
The Contract length specifies 3 months...but after being here a week I know the project will be completed within the month...Its extremely basic and they seemed to have seriously overestimated time needed. Will this mean that after the project is finished the company can legally give me notice period and push me out the door...

Thanks All..

elastic band.

[jonahtest2]

Contrator Length

thanks for the replies....To make things a little clearer...
The Contract length specifies 3 months...but after being here a week I know the project will be completed within the month...Its extremely basic and they seemed to have seriously overestimated time needed. Will this mean that after the project is finished the company can legally give me notice period and push me out the door...

Thanks All..

[Flubster]

About 9"

That'll be my girth. What about length?

[DaveB]

Contrator Length? Titter, fnarr fnarr.

Shouldn't this be in Light Relief?

About 9"

[malvolio]

Yep, spot the noob!

The contract length is an accounting convenience, linked to some budget somewhere in the client's accounts department. In reality it has little or nothing to do with how long they want to retain your services.

You need to understand that, or you will get grief. You are there as a temporary resource who can be dropped as soon as you are no longer required and should have no expectation at all of being paid for the duration - and if you do, it's a nice bonus!

[Chugnut]

Contrator Length? Titter, fnarr fnarr.

Shouldn't this be in Light Relief?

[VectraMan]

It's one of those oddities: we all say it's project based, yet work on fixed terms.

Nothing to stop you negotiating a fixed price, but most contract work is paid per hour/day. Which means it's not in your interest to work too hard.

If you do finish everything early, chances are you'll manage to keep turning up as you want the money and the manager will bury his head in the sand rather than deal with the situation.

[Sausage Surprise]

You'll work for 3 months - believe me. Even if it means you making the tea for the last 2 weeks.

[jonahtest2]

Hi all forgive me for being a noob I have the following query

If I sign a contract which stipulates a minimum contract length period. eg. 3 months. If the work I do for the client is completed in under 3 months do they still pay me for the 3 months? Or do they simply give me my "notice period" and end the contract that way?

My thinking is they should perhaps pay me the full 3 months, its akin to signing a contract for a mobile phone. If after 1 month you don't want it anymore you are still obligated to pay the remaining 11 months.

Regards,

Jonah