Reply to: Curious one, don't know how this will pan out

[alreadypacked]

Really? I'd say that I am a business looking for customers and that I would do everything possible to retain my existing clients and extend a good contract as far as is reasonably possible. Where does "opinion" come into it? (I mean, assuming the contractor isn't on his knees begging, of course.)

The situation here was that the Project Manager/Team Leader was not aware that the bean counters had pulled the plug. He has now lost two out of three developers, keeping one permie who has only just started work here (albeit that he is very good). No one is indispensable; it's just going to be a bit awkward for him for a while. He's still saying that there will probably be work for us in future, and I wouldn't be surprised to get a call a couple of months down the line, but for now it's officially end of contract and there's nothing I can do about that and I'm fine with it. But if there was something I could do then I would.

Don't forget to ask him for a referance before you go

[dang65]

You're a contractor there to provide a service for as long as they require you to. When you`ve been told "no", you don't start going through the organisation trying to sort out your own extension, that's for them to do (your manager). You make the situation clear to those involved and it's up to them to sort it out if they need and want you to stay.

Personally I'd have a lower opinion of a contractor running round trying to sort out their own extension.

Really? I'd say that I am a business looking for customers and that I would do everything possible to retain my existing clients and extend a good contract as far as is reasonably possible. Where does "opinion" come into it? (I mean, assuming the contractor isn't on his knees begging, of course.)

The situation here was that the Project Manager/Team Leader was not aware that the bean counters had pulled the plug. He has now lost two out of three developers, keeping one permie who has only just started work here (albeit that he is very good). No one is indispensable; it's just going to be a bit awkward for him for a while. He's still saying that there will probably be work for us in future, and I wouldn't be surprised to get a call a couple of months down the line, but for now it's officially end of contract and there's nothing I can do about that and I'm fine with it. But if there was something I could do then I would.

[BlasterBates]

Project managers have an infinite amount of work. Ideally they would like an infinitely large team. It is the bean counters that decide how much they can do. I would start looking, it is normal for a PM to want to renew you even as the bean counters chop the budget.

[SuperZ]

Find out, using the technique of asking. Better, ask the team manager if he'd like you to sort it out for him, then track back through their organisation and find out how to get things running again.

No, personally I`d just make it clear to the manager that you have been told officially that you won`t be renewed and that if they want you to stay then they had better start sorting things out fast. You also start looking now for something else and make them away of it.

You`re a contractor there to provide a service for as long as they require you to. When you`ve been told "no", you don`t start going through the organisation trying to sort out your own extension, that`s for them to do (your manager). You make the situation clear to those it involved and it`s up to them to sort it out if they need and want you to stay.

Personally I`d have a lower opinion of a contractor running round trying to sort out their own extension.

In the current market I`ve seen contractor work just ditched because there was no funding available and no permies available to hand the work over to either!

[dang65]

Well, just to wrap this up... got official "No renewal" confirmation from all parties today. Better start looking, I suppose! Really looking forward to a change now though, even if it's the bench for a bit.

[nomadd]

I've just been on a gig and had a lot of extensions there.
I was told my contract would not be renewed so I started to put the feelers out for other opportunities.
I was then called into the office 2 weeks before the end of my contract, and told that they were working towards a further extension (PM just had to do her justification for me).
Then in my 'last' week of contract I'm told the powers that be are not signing off any extensions for contractors and therefore I would not be extended.

So my advise is to start looking around if you get extended all well and good, but if you don't you've already started the groundwork and won't be left wishing you'd started looking around earlier

WHS.

Sailed through 3 renewals at my last gig. PM thought myself and the other contractor would sail through the next 3. Senior Bean Counters had other ideas: no contractors from this point forward. We were both let go, along with all the other contractors on the other projects in-house. Such is the life of a contractor.

On the flip side, I was talking to one of the permies at my current gig. They have a lot of work on but have only just got a team together. Permie tells me they had a team in place 6 months ago, all contractors, but they were "credit crunched" (i.e. all let go.)

That's the way the market is these days. Best to always expect the worst and keep your eyes peeled for any new opportunities.

Nomadd

[Sailaway]

I've just been on a gig and had a lot of extensions there.
I was told my contract would not be renewed so I started to put the feelers out for other opportunities.
I was then called into the office 2 weeks before the end of my contract, and told that they were working towards a further extension (PM just had to do her justification for me).
Then in my 'last' week of contract I'm told the powers that be are not signing off any extensions for contractors and therefore I would not be extended.

So my advise is to start looking around if you get extended all well and good, but if you don't you've already started the groundwork and won't be left wishing you'd started looking around earlier

[NickFitz]

Leave on Friday, see the gig advertised on Jobserve on Monday, interview Tuesday, start again - at higher rate to make up for the inconvenience - on Wednesday.

[Clarky]

Do you happen to work for a large British Telco provider by chance? Had the same thing happen over and over, yet I'm still here... ok, been passed from pillar to post in terms of agencies and software suppliers who could do PS on the PSL, but I'm still getting paid and got a few rises out of it along the way!

But like the others say, try get something else lined up... your manager might have his hands tied behind his back on this one...

[singhr]

How about just rocking up on Monday after you 'finish', see if your pass gets you through the door etc. do a weeks work and see if they sign your timesheet - if so carry on billing!

[dang65]

Where is the funny situation?

Yes, I've known the situation with bean counters turning down operational managers, obviously. The funny situation is that a) the manager had no idea that there might be an issue and HR just communicated directly to the agencies and b) that the agency can't get involved in negotiations here (i.e. provide the service which earns them their commission) as they've been told "No". Well, that makes it unusual for me anyway.

I've only just gone over one year, so not too worried about IR35 and that. I don't have a problem with being dumped either, but it's a good contract and there is plenty of work, so I'd be daft to just walk away while there is still a reasonably strong chance that there will be a renewal once the operational people start making a fuss.

How did things pan out on the many occasions that this has happened to you?

[northernladuk]

Where is the funny situation? This is just standard business. There is plenty of work on the ground, manager wants you etc. The senior guys and bean counters trying to make budgets fit for shareholders and execs. You are messing their system up or bucking the policy of no contractor renewals. Your manager has to put a good business case up for renewal and they must consider its merits and approve or deny.

What's odd about that?

If the man with the purse says no so until you hear otherwise it's no. Everyone up to god might want you back but if they aren't going to pay it isn't going to happen is it.

Risk is up to you, but bearing in mind people are finding the market a bit flat I would expect you to have started searching many moons ago to cover your own ass.

You don't mention the overall time you have been there but if it's coming up to 2 years your going to want to move for IR35 and expense claiming anyway aren't you?

[dang65]

Hmm, is one of these giant corporation places unfortunately. It's not like the team manager can just phone Dave in HR and give him an earful. There are processes and procedures, there are sign-offs and internal systems for posting renewal requests, and there are purchase orders.

What's different this time is that HR, in a distant office at the top of a tower, have instantly said, "No renewal" without even saying, "Hang on, we'll find out" and giving the development team a call. Nothing.

To be honest, I've done all I can by informing the manager and the agency of the situation, and obviously I'll keep asking for updates. I was just wondering if others had been in this position before and how things had worked out in the end.

[singhr]

Have been in this situ myself, usually in large organisation where left hand doesnt know what right hand is doing. In my case the agent could do nothing, so it's up to you to oil the machine and get the cogs turning (although leaving things to the last day gives you a lot of leverage when it comes to improving your terms) - good luck.

[Jeebo72]

Start looking. If you get something lined up, go back to the manager and say you have an offer on the table, so you need to know now...

Everything will click into place at that point. If they really need / want you, they will sort it out asap. But don't go on idile promises, get a contract on the table.

Been there before, don't wait around.

J