Effing Contractors

[Dow Jones]

Conts Vs Pimps

DA seems to be a reformed character these days!
Anyway, for the conts amongst the contractors, think about before you embark on your high horse that you shouldn't harm your clients' interests in any pursuit of your own, in other words 'don't cut your nose to spite your face'.
For the pimps amongst the agents, I'd say DA has got it spot on. Short-termism (financial interest) should not override long-term potential (in both client and cont).
I would definitely not have gone back though for some idiot that has done me wrong, like in DA's case.
I took once someone that (I thought) I knew who wanted to work direct - only to become his 'agent' in a sense that he wanted me to intervene in his contract disputes with HR and accounts. I don't mind the greedy conts that want to save whatever the agent cut is as long as they have the skills and can negotiate on their own. It's when 1st/2nd time conts doing it without having a clue about business that gets me.

[NotAllThere]

I read EOs post before this one - until I checked the dates, I though DA was taking the piss out of EO...

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy Agent

If the contractor had no notice period, but bailed out early, and the client wasnt too fussed (because there was cover for example, or the work was finished) would you still whack the contractor for some form of redress(e.g. compensation)

I havn't in the past, but am now condsidering getting this clause removed/amended for future contracts, cos it scares me

Even if it p**ssed off the client I wouldnt bother. I would only consider such a move if the client came after me, which would be highly unlikely. Agencies who pursue this are mad and are usually bluffing anyway.

[EternalOptimist]

Question for Dodgy

Dodgy Agent

If the contractor had no notice period, but bailed out early, and the client wasnt too fussed (because there was cover for example, or the work was finished) would you still whack the contractor for some form of redress(e.g. compensation)

I havn't in the past, but am now condsidering getting this clause removed/amended for future contracts, cos it scares me

[BlasterBates]

Keep us posted

It was the f***ing agent.

I spoke to the client this morning and he agreed with me "I'll sort it out" he said, so my theory of a bad inflexible manager was wrong

I've been conducting my negotiations with the agent, and he said it reflected what the client said, but this wasn't true. What a p**ock. The truth was the budget wasn't approved, so the agent decided to give me a notice period that covered their backs.

Bl***dy agents

Back to normality.

[BoiledSpastit]

Had the opposite once. An ex-manager called me direct (I had previously worked for him as a permie) and said he'd had my CV through an agent - we negotiated a direct rate. Then the agent calls me and wants to take a cut (only about 3%) - anyway I continued direct - and it was a pain getting the money out of them - I had to go through their finance department, endless phone calls - every month they were late and nearly always made some mistakes in the amount - they queried my invoices and generally were unhelpful. In hindsight I should have gone through the agent to save all that hassle.

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy I have made an offer that is quite reasonable, whereby I have a months notice and they can keep their immediate termination. Someone is playing "hardball". The reason I'm not accepting is because it is abundantly clear they are not going to honour the 6 month contract.

But I am going to enjoy watching the ructions, and the arrogant manager who thinks he can dictate his conditions get his bottom kicked.

He's poker player, who doesn't understand the business he recently took over, and he thinks he has the better hand.

....but he doesn't

Keep us posted

[BlasterBates]

Dodgy I have made an offer that is quite reasonable, whereby I have a months notice and they can keep their immediate termination. Someone is playing "hardball". The reason I'm not accepting is because it is abundantly clear they are not going to honour the 6 month contract.

But I am going to enjoy watching the ructions, and the arrogant manager who thinks he can dictate his conditions get his bottom kicked.

He's poker player, who doesn't understand the business he recently took over, and he thinks he has the better hand.

....but he doesn't

[DodgyAgent]

My agency, at the bequest of the client wants me to accept a no termination notice period, whereas I'm committed. I've declined, even a week ago, but the client is stonewalling assuming because the market is difficult I'll accept at the last minute.

I'm going to enjoy watching them squirm, when I dictate my new notice period on the last day, as it will cause a significant delay on their current project.

Oh how I will laugh, because I don't really care either way.

How grown up and businesslike of you

[BlasterBates]

My agency, at the bequest of the client wants me to accept a no termination notice period, whereas I'm committed. I've declined, even a week ago, but the client is stonewalling assuming because the market is difficult I'll accept at the last minute.

I'm going to enjoy watching them squirm, when I dictate my new notice period on the last day, as it will cause a significant delay on their current project.

Oh how I will laugh, because I don't really care either way.

[Cheshire Cat]

as you say, "c'est la vie"

[DodgyAgent]

About 2 years ago I thought I had placed a senior contractor (I had even driven him to the interview) at a good client of mine. The b**tard then decides to change his mind at the last minute. Part of me wants to throw my toys out of the pram, but I didnt. I didnt rubbish the contractor, and to be honest I should have spotted the signs earlier and dealt with him before hand.

The senior contractor and I did not fall out. He was not particularly contrite or apologetic about what had happened, but c'est la vie. Today we have another job for him at a new client and one of my staff calls him. True to form he gives my resourcer a good grilling about the role and agrees for us to send him forward, but no CV arrives.

We call him and he tells us that he is going direct as he knows one of the senior managers at the client site (to be fair he knew about the jobs anyway)


So I call him and appeal to his kinder nature (though he had never shown any signs of having one) and remind him of the fact that thanks to us taking much of the blame he was not spoiled from going back to that client. Anyway much to my surprise it worked and he has agreed to go through us.

The moral is that no matter how much people shi* on you, always keep your foot in the door as one day it might just open up for you.