Reply to: Warning Signs

[NickFitz]

Client Co is solid, but took over with another company earlier this year.

What I didn't realise when I took the contract, I am working in the office of the company they took over.

This is following the usual trend. Take over goes through. BAU for about 6 months. Then heads begin to roll, just before Christmas.

That was pretty much the situation at the place I was at with the empty desks, though it was only ever a short-term gig anyway.

It was when the receptionist-cum-admin-assistant, who had been at the company since leaving college about six years previously, left for another job that I concluded chances of an extension were slim. She was in a position to be aware of the writing long before it made it to the wall, so if she was getting out while the getting was good…

[xoggoth]

Most seriously, when you are paid late a couple of times with differing excuses.

[meridian]

At a Nestlé site it was gold blend only. We used to go to a local café for coffee.

Gold Blend with powdered milk, and the vending machine where the kit kats are more expensive than the local shop.

[MicrosoftBob]

Sounds like most Public Sector gigs Ive done. Usually two out of three. ATM I have Lotus Notes and union posters with one client, Desktops and union posters at another and no idea about the third cos I never go into their offices ( I got the gig after a quick chat and a coffee in a local Cafe Nero.)

One Uni, the IT manager always had a copy of Socialist Worker on her desk, at least it gave me warning not to say anything sensible

[DaveB]

Desktops rather than laptops. Lotus notes rather than outlook. And the clincher: union posters plastered on boards in communal areas. If it's a hat trick then just walk.

Sounds like most Public Sector gigs Ive done. Usually two out of three. ATM I have Lotus Notes and union posters with one client, Desktops and union posters at another and no idea about the third cos I never go into their offices ( I got the gig after a quick chat and a coffee in a local Cafe Nero.)

[alreadypacked]

Open-plan office in which two-thirds of the desks are empty, except for the occasional four-socket adapter and a few trailing Ethernet cables.

Check

[alreadypacked]

Client Co is solid, but took over with another company earlier this year.

What I didn't realise when I took the contract, I am working in the office of the company they took over.

This is following the usual trend. Take over goes through. BAU for about 6 months. Then heads begin to roll, just before Christmas.

So these bail-outs are trying to beat the Christmas rush.

So glad I'm a contractor, looking at some of these permies, I am not sure if they would remember to go to a new office, if they got a new job.

[Troll]

Open-plan office in which two-thirds of the desks are empty, except for the occasional four-socket adapter and a few trailing Ethernet cables.

I always have a look in those empty desk drawers to see what as left behind - whether it was a sudden unexpected event - e.g. cup a soups left for lunch & never given time to retrieve or empty with everyone aware of what was about to happen

[NotAllThere]

• ...
• Receptionist's desk is not visible from yours
• Huge open plan office treating people like copy+paste resources
  
• Nescafe gold blend
• No phone reception
  ...

At a Nestlé site it was gold blend only. We used to go to a local café for coffee.

[PurpleGorilla]

All the permies wanna connect on LinkedIn...

[barrydidit]

Desktops rather than laptops. Lotus notes rather than outlook. And the clincher: union posters plastered on boards in communal areas. If it's a hat trick then just walk.

[greenlake]

You arrive on client site, and settle into a new contract. But thing don't seem right, is it just a new environment or are they warning signs to look for something new, quickly?

All the senior member of the team have left or are due to leave soon. Check
No one is making decisions, waiting for an announcement. Check

Anything else?

[NickFitz]

Open-plan office in which two-thirds of the desks are empty, except for the occasional four-socket adapter and a few trailing Ethernet cables.

[Tasslehoff]

Been there done it

People being asked to bring their documentation up to date is a key one.


Contractors coming in (that's you!) and cross training to cover "holiday"

Tbf most of the people involved when it happened to me were cool. I did witness a total breakdown though, when the news finally leaked. Full on total colapse, was really grim.

[northernladuk]

• Manager is more than 60 years old and doesn't really seem to do anything other than ask people how they're getting on

To be fair if that is all he has to do and the team is delivering effectively he's done a bloody good job