Perma-temp roles and HR depts (rant)

[northernladuk]

I think what peeved me more than anything was the need for a personal reference to cover time between gigs... it's pointless.

Some setups will require this to make sure you haven't been detained at her majesties pleasure. Financial organisations doing a credit check on you will ask to you also supply bank statments for the periods they cannot check to make sure you are large in the community and not in the clanger.

[Dark Black]

More like silly contractor doesn't understand contractors to me. You don't give your client as a reference. One of the reasons they get contractors in via an agent is so they don't have to bother with all the HR crap and that includes giving references. Why does your client give a crap what you do? They don't hold records on you so why give them as a reference.

I think I see what is causing all the problems in your scenario....

There is a very long thread about giving references in the forums you might want to read.

A long reference thread, really? I couldn't see one - aside from the sticky one about agents fishing for them.

But I do take your point, however in this instance Client A have always stated they would respond to reference requests with regards to contract dates and Client B responded to an email request for permission again stating they would, so in this case I don't see a problem with my supplying their details.

Nevertheless... in future (assuming this will happen again, which frankly is unlikely) I'll just supply the agency details.

I think what peeved me more than anything was the need for a personal reference to cover time between gigs... it's pointless.

[northernladuk]

Why?

They've known I'm a contractor from the start... supplying references from previous clients (with their permission I might add) seems perfectly reasonable.

The problem appears to be that the silly bint in HR doesn't understand contractors.

More like silly contractor doesn't understand contractors to me. You don't give your client as a reference. One of the reasons they get contractors in via an agent is so they don't have to bother with all the HR crap and that includes giving references. Why does your client give a crap what you do? They don't hold records on you so why give them as a reference.

I think I see what is causing all the problems in your scenario....

There is a very long thread about giving references in the forums you might want to read.

[Dark Black]

Let me get this right? You are moaning about their HR and the problems them trying to find the right reference and you gave them an ex client???

I would back out this tread quietly if I were you....

Why?

They've known I'm a contractor from the start... supplying references from previous clients (with their permission I might add) seems perfectly reasonable.

The problem appears to be that the silly bint in HR doesn't understand contractors.

[northernladuk]

Yes

Let me get this right? You are moaning about their HR and the problems them trying to find the right reference and you gave them an ex client???

I would back out this tread quietly if I were you....

[Dark Black]

They're HR. You should be able to spin this out until after the end of your contract. ( I once got invited to an induction event that took place two weeks after my end date ).

Wish I could but I haven't started yet and won't be till HR have crossed all the i's and dotted the t's....

Annoying thing is I turned down a (shorter) proper contract for this.. I could have started this week

[NotAllThere]

They're HR. You should be able to spin this out until after the end of your contract. ( I once got invited to an induction event that took place two weeks after my end date ).

[Dark Black]

How did they know to contact your last client? From the references you submitted?

Yes

[northernladuk]

How did they know to contact your last client? From the references you submitted?

[Dark Black]

FFS....

Against my principles I accepted a 6 month permatemp role in preference to a 2-month proper contract.

I'm beginning to wish I'd taken the contract...

After filling in the usual HR paperwork for references, the first thing they do is come back wanting a personal reference for the few months from my last contract ending. I moaned a bit but provided them with a neighbour who was happy to state that I was alive and well and living next door

Then they come back having contacted my last client, now saying they need the name of the agent since the client (correctly) told them that I didn't work direct for them (quite right too!). I've replied telling them that yes, I can supply the agency details but pointing out that I don't work for agencies either but though my Ltd.... FFS is it really worth it....

I'm this close to binning them and looking for a proper gig again