Reply to: Contract Terminated following fives days sickness (prescribed treatment by GP)

[PropertyCrashUK]

It is their Karma.

Let it go, get on with your life, be happy. Let good Karma be your guide, leave them their own Karma.

What goes around...

[SuperZ]

It's not nice and I'm sorry for you but you are a contractor providing a service and as such are expendable. If you are not able to provide the service they require they can do what they want, you might have been hired to do some urgent work for x number of weeks and you're not there. We're not permies, we're also not temps, we're providing a business service.

Similar to if you had an urgent job needed doing at home and the workman doesn't show when he says he will because he's out sick for a week, you'd be tempted to get someone else?

[darmstadt]

A bit tulip but it makes me wonder, surely the agency should have been involved in supporting the contractor here as its in their best interests. Normally they ask you to inform them if you're taking holidays or are sick so they can assist the end client in case of problems. I've had agencies ask the end client if I can have remote access in case of something like this happening.

[BolshieBastard]

years a go i worked in a factory and a fella collapsed with a heart attack, ambulance arrived and has they were taking him out the door on a stretcher the factory manager clocked him off, so much for being permie

'Kinell! Miserable bastard!

[MarillionFan]

That's the bum deal side of contracting I'm afraid. We get paid more than your average permie salary because we're flexible, ready, willing & able. The downside to being a contractor is, that you are a service, if you cannot deliver that service then it's goodbye because someone else will. Tough break. Chalk it up.

Hope you feel better soon.

[NotReallyButSeriously]

Something similar happened to me last year. I was 18 turning 19 at the time and didn't have much experience. Got my first contract which was meant to last for 3 - 4 weeks maximum.

A week and a half into the contract I caught Labyrinthitis. It killed me for the next 3 days and I had serious vertigo & dizziness. There was no way in hell that I could even attempt to work even though I actually wanted to because I enjoyed the work and being around the people at the company.

I called the Agency on the second day of my illness as I couldn't even operate my phone on the first day. They said ok, blah blah blah!

The next day they notified me that my contract had been terminated. I can't even remember the reason they gave, but I rang up the person I reported to at the client and tried to persuade him to keep me on.. He said No as it was such a short contract and I hadn't let them know on the first day of my illness. It was ridiculous as the work they hired me to do wasn't due to start until the week after and I was literally sitting in the office talking & joking with the staff for the 2 weeks I was actually there.

Anyway, I just shrug it off and still put it down on My CV due to my low amount of experience, if anyone asks I just tell them I contracted a serious illness and had to end my contract early.

Wish there was more I could of done about it at the time.

[SueEllen]

Perhaps you would be more suited to a permie role?

Emm the way I've heard and overseen companies treat permies with the disabilities most people accept as disabilities - NO.

[eek]

Perhaps you would be more suited to a permie role?

I have a simple rule when stuff like this happens.

Tulip happens, dust yourself down and start again.

[escapeUK]

If I'd been a permanent member of staff they would not have been able to do this?

Perhaps you would be more suited to a permie role?

[amcdonald]

years a go i worked in a factory and a fella collapsed with a heart attack, ambulance arrived and has they were taking him out the door on a stretcher the factory manager clocked him off, so much for being permie

Did they dock his pay for an unauthorised abscence though ?

[george99]

Very true.

I have been at one place where an ambulance was called for a contractor that collapsed.

Normally if you are that sick there will be always a few people in the client's office who will make a comment telling you, you shouldn't be in. Once they have seen you for a couple of hours then you can go home.

Unfortunately if you have a condition that can effects your ears and balance it's a bit difficult getting in in the first place (and getting home) but it can be done particularly if it's by public transport.

The ear problem was less urgent than the shortness of breath - I would not have made it in. Being diabetic doesn't help.

However - I will move on - and name and shame : UCHL, London.

[TheFaQQer]

Unfortunately if you have a condition that can effects your ears and balance it's a bit difficult getting in in the first place (and getting home) but it can be done particularly if it's by public transport.

When I was ill, my client waited six weeks before they terminated the contract. Which I completely understood, and we parted on good terms. But I was incredibly ill.

[Support Monkey]

years a go i worked in a factory and a fella collapsed with a heart attack, ambulance arrived and has they were taking him out the door on a stretcher the factory manager clocked him off, so much for being permie

[SueEllen]

Thats unfortunate and totally unacceptable to be canned for being ill, as contractors we are still human so do get Ill however thats the gamble of contracting and i think someone on here previously said if your a contractor and you get ill you need to be in hospital or dead not to turn in.

Very true.

I have been at one place where an ambulance was called for a contractor that collapsed.

Normally if you are that sick there will be always a few people in the client's office who will make a comment telling you, you shouldn't be in. Once they have seen you for a couple of hours then you can go home.

Unfortunately if you have a condition that can effects your ears and balance it's a bit difficult getting in in the first place (and getting home) but it can be done particularly if it's by public transport.

[Support Monkey]

I have been working for an NHS Trust in London for about 6weeks via an agency delivering Project Management services. I have recently been forced to take five days sickness (unpaid) due to an infection to both my ears, throat and chest which had left me nearly deaf and short of breath. I did attend my GP who made the diagnosis and prescribed strong antibiotics.

I have been in contact with the client on a daily basis to ensure that anything I was to deal with was communicated to my line manager and I had asked if I could have my email redirected home so that I could keep on top of things - this was refused and I was told that being ill was just one of those things that can't be avoided and I should stay at home until recovered to avoid infecting anyone else.

I had a call from my agent yesterday informing me that they had terminated my contract - stating the reason for termination being "due to performance related issues and the ability to carry out the duties of the role at the level required."

I'm very angry about this and want to know if there is anything I can do about this - this is likely to affect my future assignments?!
If I'd been a permanent member of staff they would not have been able to do this?

Thats unfortunate and totally unacceptable to be canned for being ill, as contractors we are still human so do get Ill however thats the gamble of contracting and i think someone on here previously said if your a contractor and you get ill you need to be in hospital or dead not to turn in.

Unpaid! it always will be they only pay for days onsite, don't waste your energy being angry they won't have you back just get out and find another contract and just put it on your CV as a 6 week contract.

Your right if you were Permie they could not do it but your not so just accept thats the way it is and move on