Reply to: Reducing notice period for move from perm to contract

[kingcook]

After first contract I would be in a reasonable position and not scared at all. But my current level of savings is not good enough considering the wife and kids to support. So I need to minimise risk on the first step, that's all. Contracting is definitely for me other than that.

Here's a thought... what happens if you don't manage to secure a contract within 6 months of leaving your permie job?

[Wils]

Here's the thing. How are your savings? How long can you survive without income?

...If that scares you, then good.

Good luck.

After first contract I would be in a reasonable position and not scared at all. But my current level of savings is not good enough considering the wife and kids to support. So I need to minimise risk on the first step, that's all. Contracting is definitely for me other than that.

[kingcook]

At the moment I am quite important to them and they have stated it would be a problem if I left before the part of the project I am working on is complete. That is likely to change in early October when this work finishes, and may even reverse as the culture of the team is changing and I am likely to find myself more isolated by October. So my thinking was to announce my intention to leave while I am still important and offer to delay it until October (at the earliest - who know how long it will take to get a contract) in return for a shorter notice period.

Waiting until the current project you're working on is complete would be wise. Leaving a project half way through would look bad on any possible references.

[doomage]

(- who knows how long it will take to get a contract)

Here's the thing. How are your savings? How long can you survive without income?

Are you able to gauge how many suitable contracts are available and how confident are you that you will get them? Contracting is a business in many respects, part of successful business ownership is the ability to forecast, to measure and take risks. You should plan to hand in your notice with full intention of working to the end, and in the last couple of weeks actively start chasing contracts. Most contracts want you to start immediately (within 1 week), so unless you are able to walk from your current employer immediately then you run the risk of being without a job and without a contract.

I've known many permanent employees who wanted to go contracting but couldn't plan their exit. This concept of 'reducing notice period' implies uncertainty, which is bad for your business. Hand your notice in now. If that scares you, then good.

If you can't hand it in right now, then you are not ready yet, simple as that. Unless you like to live on the edge, in which case, JFDI.

Good luck.

[northernladuk]

If you are serious about contracting just leave now. You are putting mountains in the way of getting a gig. You have to find a gig that will wait a couple of weeks which isn't common in my experience, particularly with it being your first contract from perm. You have to hope the gig doesn't disappear in that time. You then have to hope your employer lets you go early. All this in a depressed market.

[Wils]

Thanks all.

I think getting the contract first might be a good option. I don't quite have enough leave to reduce my notice to two weeks, so that may make that strategy a tad difficult.

At the moment I am quite important to them and they have stated it would be a problem if I left before the part of the project I am working on is complete. That is likely to change in early October when this work finishes, and may even reverse as the culture of the team is changing and I am likely to find myself more isolated by October. So my thinking was to announce my intention to leave while I am still important and offer to delay it until October (at the earliest - who know how long it will take to get a contract) in return for a shorter notice period.

But from your responses it looks like I should only try to negotiate once I have a firm offer.

[Scrag Meister]

If you don't ask you never know!

However you'll be burning a bridge if you ever have a change of heart and decide to stay there.

WAMS

See if negotiation is possible. Probably depends on your position and knowledge in your current project.

[kettlebellBA]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

Once my first contract was in place I exited a perm position with 3 days notice.

I was prepared to walk and face the consequences (not a lot legally / financially, but potentially damaging to my reputation), but to be fair my ex line manager pulled out all the stops to "make it happen" cleanly...

I was hugely under utilised and the org was looking to cut heads so it gave them a zero cost exit, and meant that i left on good terms - they paid my part month salary owing and I even got a "you must come to the xmas do" offer.

So it can be done, but as others have advised I guess it depends on your particular circumstances and your role within your current org.

Be rational, be honest to yourself and if its right go for it, if not keep saving and looking!

[Willapp]

The trick is to make sure you have holiday time in the bank. Then it's carry on as normal, interview, tell the agents you're ready next week & then play a little poker with both sides.

Do be aware though that some employment contracts (I've had one previously) can state that it's up to the Employer whether accrued holiday can be taken during the notice period or simply paid in lieu so there are cases where a disgruntled Employer might refuse to allow unused holiday to shorten the notice period.

Having said that, as per my previous post it's very unlikely any employer would do anything if you left part-way through your notice period - worst case it might just mean you don't get a great reference!

[BolshieBastard]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

Have you got any leave accrued? If so, tell your employer you want to include this in your notice period ie 2 weeks leave left, so you only work 2 weeks of a 4 weeks notice period.

Otherwise, its down to the employer agreeing to reduce the notice period which they may or may not do.

[MarillionFan]

Is your current notice a month? Look for a gig and tell them you have some holiday to use up so can start with 2 weeks notice. Then negotiate both sides - either you can finish early or start later.

Though if you are nervy now - what are you going to be like once a contract ends and you are benched for a while? Are you sure contracting is for you?

WHS

The trick is to make sure you have holiday time in the bank. Then it's carry on as normal, interview, tell the agents you're ready next week & then play a little poker with both sides.

[Gentile]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone (a perm) has had success or heard of someone asking an employer to reduce a notice period to make it easier for them to leave a perm role and get into a contract. I am thinking of telling my current employer of my intention to leave my perm role and ask if I can reduce my notice period down to a couple of weeks before I start searching. Is that madness or worth a try?

You should wait until you've got a contract first then deal with it. I've never yet experienced a permie employer objecting to someone asking to reduce their notice period so they could take up another opportunity (who wants an unmotivated employee hanging around for longer than they wanted to?) One particularly charming COO at a startup I worked at once petulantly asked me if I "wanted to leave immediately" when I handed in my notice, clearly hoping to save money and indicate their displeasure at me deciding they weren't the employer for me at the same time. They seemed really annoyed that I hadn't swallowed their kool-aid about how successful the whole venture was going to be when in reality it was obvious they were tanking. I worked my full two months notice in that case just to spite the guy; childish, I know.

[BrilloPad]

Is your current notice a month? Look for a gig and tell them you have some holiday to use up so can start with 2 weeks notice. Then negotiate both sides - either you can finish early or start later.

Though if you are nervy now - what are you going to be like once a contract ends and you are benched for a while? Are you sure contracting is for you?

[Willapp]

The thing about notice periods is that unless you perform a vital service to the company and your abrupt departure would result in actual financial loss for the business (loss which exceeds what they would save by not paying your notice period), there's really nothing a company can (or will) do if you decide to leave sooner than your contract requires.

Having said that obviously nobody wants to leave a bad impression, but once you take into account any owed holiday entitlement it's often possible to shorten down a 4 week notice period to 2 or 3 weeks pretty easily. What I would do in your situation is tell any potential contract clients that you're available within 1 or 2 weeks (whichever you prefer), and once you get an offer in writing just tell your current employers that's when you'll be leaving.

[Segush]

I got an offer from the main competitors (perm) and pretended I accepted it. Was put on gardening leave 5 minutes after handing in my notice.Started my new role contracting the following day as agreed.I did sweat a lot during this time as it was a big risk,but it worked!!!!