Reply to: Getting out of a contract early

[wantacontract]

Depends if you think you ever want to go back there to work...if not, then I would hand notice in and go.

[yasockie]

If you have a contract at the moment, it means that every single day you are getting slightly more than you would have if you were a perm.
On your end this is offset by the bench time (hopefully still a net win for you) but on the client's side they are paying a little more in exchange for higher skills and professionalism and ability for them to let you go easily (but not the other way around, of course).
If they are not getting that, what are they paying you for?
Also try to get that new awesome role interview sooner rather later and tell them you can start in 4 weeks, and maybe read up on the new project in your spare time, if they can't wait for someone for 4 weeks, they probably don't manage the projects very well.

[malvolio]

You know, you can be one of the ones complaining about the "unprofessionals" who jump ship to higher paying contracts, or you can be one of the "unprofessionals" who jump ship to higher paying contracts!

Or I can be one of the ones who gets high paying contracts first time round and doesn't need to jump ship?

I really don't actually care that much, except to provide a bit of perspective. One man's "be a hero and look out for yourself" is another man's "selfish irresponsible git". The reality is somewhere in between.

[BolshieBastard]

Perhaps people like the OP should consider each role properly instead of jumping into the first contract that comes along when they have been on the bench for 8 weeks or so?

8 weeks on the bench is sweet fa in the scheme of things. If you have to take a role after such short time, whether for money or 'just wanting to be back in the saddle' shows an incredible lack of foresight and planning imo.

Seems too many contractors jump from the frying pan into the fire at times. Just mvho though.

[billybiro]

Personally, having had to spen unscheduled time and money recovering too many projects where unprofessionals have left without warning or notice, I'm not that sympathetic to people who think they have a right to do it. There's always a graceful exit, it's up to you to find it.

You know, you can be one of the ones complaining about the "unprofessionals" who jump ship to higher paying contracts, or you can be one of the "unprofessionals" who jump ship to higher paying contracts!

[billybiro]

So it hasn't even been offered yet. What are you, some kind of superhero?

FFS, take a bit of resopnsibility for yourself. Go talk to the client and see what they say. Or find a subbie. Or give 4 weeks notice, and tell your "new" client that's when you can start. Then negotiate if the job is still there.

You've agreed to sell your skill and expertise to some purpose. You can't leave gracefully without gviing notice. How hard is that to understand? You want to get out of that commitment, either run away like a five year old or try and limit the damage you're going to cause. Both are bad, one is seriously less bad than the other. But don't come on here looking for advice; the only advice you'll get that means anything is to finish what you've contracted to do

Yes, take a bit of responsibility for yourself, but don't take this advice. You need to think like your client (any client) does. The "contract" (any contract) isn't really worth the paper it's written on as despite what it may say, there's always a way out of any contractual "obligation" for either party.

What you need to do is understand when the moment that the situation you're in isn't working for YOU, you do whatever it takes to makes the situation right, for YOU. You can take the above advice and be a doormat, or you can stuff everything (and everyone) else and look after No.1.

It's a dog eat dog world out there, sunshine, and face it, if you don't look after yourself no one else will.

[cojak]

A contractor on a previous contract went sick for a month and then just didn't turn up.

He wasn't the most popular person for that and he burnt his (otherwise excellent) references because of it.

[TheFaQQer]

Must say I agree with MF here. At the end of the day, like he says, clients/agents will do it you if it suits them.....

And when it happens to you, how annoyed do you feel?

Two wrongs don't make a right.

[psychocandy]

You need to do what is best for you, not others. Lots of 'professional' opinions on here but in truth, those same posters who have handed it to them from the client belly ache and roll over. Clients/agents pull the stunt on contractors commonly so don't feel bad or pressurised by your so called 'virtual peers'.

Must say I agree with MF here. At the end of the day, like he says, clients/agents will do it you if it suits them.....

[pmeswani]

HI,

I suspect I will get a 'better offer' of another contract this week however I have just taken a new contract on and it has a 4 week notice period. Anyone know how I can get out of it earlier, say a week?

I recall a situation I was in not so long ago. I worked for a Blue Chip Auditing company and was coming to the end of my contract. The client wanted to keep me on, but was carrot baited into another offer that was for more money. On the afternoon when I walked out of the contract from the Blue Chip company, I got a phone call from the agent telling me that the new contract was canned. I was furious and told the agent that. Ok, I got some money out of the agent and also salvaged the contract at a lower rate, but wasn't happy about it. Just remember, the grass isn't always greener.

[malvolio]

There are a lot of people flaming this guy without knowing the full picture and putting his position into perspective.

How would you feel if you had been out of work for over 2 months? You too would be keen to get back into a contract soon, surely, even if it meant travelling and staying away?

Then, what if you have a family, and working/living away from them is proving difficult - and then a contract comes up commutable from home and is paying 40% more? Suddenly you can cut your costs, earn more, improve your standard of life and be with your family again.

Professional or not, a good businessman and a good family man would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity. As MF says you must look after yourself and your family first.

I would, however, always be upfront and honest with the client. Personally, I have been fortunate to land better roles at the end of existing contracts, but I have made it clear to those existing clients that I won't be renewing. It's good business to leave doors open for the future.

Try reading what us professionals are actually saying. It's not about taking the new contract if it's the right thing to do, it's about how you manage leaving the existing one. We're saying the OP must talk to the client and discuss the options and either offer a subbie or accept some unpaid work time. The OP's attitude was very much "How do I get out now?" and not "How do I best manage an early termination?".

Personally, having had to spen unscheduled time and money recovering too many projects where unprofessionals have left without warning or notice, I'm not that sympathetic to people who think they have a right to do it. There's always a graceful exit, it's up to you to find it.

[northernladuk]

There are a lot of people flaming this guy without knowing the full picture and putting his position into perspective.

How would you feel if you had been out of work for over 2 months? You too would be keen to get back into a contract soon, surely, even if it meant travelling and staying away?

Then, what if you have a family, and working/living away from them is proving difficult - and then a contract comes up commutable from home and is paying 40% more? Suddenly you can cut your costs, earn more, improve your standard of life and be with your family again.

Professional or not, a good businessman and a good family man would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity. As MF says you must look after yourself and your family first.

I would, however, always be upfront and honest with the client. Personally, I have been fortunate to land better roles at the end of existing contracts, but I have made it clear to those existing clients that I won't be renewing. It's good business to leave doors open for the future.

This is very true but we also can't be seen to be condoning it either. The OP should look after himself but also know what he does isn't very professional. He wanted our opinion and he got it.

[ChimpMaster]

There are a lot of people flaming this guy without knowing the full picture and putting his position into perspective.

How would you feel if you had been out of work for over 2 months? You too would be keen to get back into a contract soon, surely, even if it meant travelling and staying away?

Then, what if you have a family, and working/living away from them is proving difficult - and then a contract comes up commutable from home and is paying 40% more? Suddenly you can cut your costs, earn more, improve your standard of life and be with your family again.

Professional or not, a good businessman and a good family man would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity. As MF says you must look after yourself and your family first.

I would, however, always be upfront and honest with the client. Personally, I have been fortunate to land better roles at the end of existing contracts, but I have made it clear to those existing clients that I won't be renewing. It's good business to leave doors open for the future.

[Joeman]

Excercise your right to substitution and subby in some other mug into your role, and take half his rate
It will either work out well in which case you get 50% of the rate ontop of your new rate for a few months, or it will work out bad, in which case you still get 50% of the rate, but not for very long

[MarillionFan]

All Noted....

You need to do what is best for you, not others. Lots of 'professional' opinions on here but in truth, those same posters who have handed it to them from the client belly ache and roll over. Clients/agents pull the stunt on contractors commonly so don't feel bad or pressurised by your so called 'virtual peers'.