Reply to: First Time Woes

[BrowneIssue]

Alan, you have to consider your reputation. Permie jobs are not as secure as they were and you may find yourself contracting again in the very near future. If that happens you will need all the friends you can get and your ex employer would be a very good friend. There is absolutely no point in earning way more money than you need , thats just greed, so I think you have made the right call here. If they contact you, be polite and firmly tell them that you will do no more than ten hours a week unpaid and one weekend per month maximum. Ask them for a written reference and a testimonial saying what a god solid worker you are.
good luck.


one born every minute

Sadly, true. Poor bugger.

[EternalOptimist]

Hi to all, first time posting !

I've got a question and I'd appreciate some feed back

I got my first contract in September last year, working under an umbrella company,which was meant to run until the start of March of this year. At the start of the year, first day back, I was told that my contract would need to be terminated early,basically to save the company I was contracted to some money. They had made people redundant just before Xmas and then some more at the start of the year. Anyway, they cut 5 weeks of my due end date. This didnt bother me TOO much as I had had an offer of a permanent job after my contract had finished, so apart from the loss of money it didnt seem a big deal.
A week before my contract was going to end they wanted the project I was working on to go live. As with any IT projects there were a few problems, but nothing too major, but on the last day of my contract they found a couple of major problems. I worked all weekend (this is AFTER my contract had finished) to fix them and I think I have sorted it out.
I now start my new permanent job, but I'm concerned that I'm going to have the previous job contacting me all the time wanting me to fix problems,something that my boss there said he would do. I won't have the time what with starting the new job, so basically what is my legal standpoint, considering it was them that terminated the contract early?

I had some problems with the agency trying to get paid all the way through the contract, and from the start of this year was doing some stupid hours, at least 4 hours overtime a night and working all weekends, all for no pay, just to try and meet the project deadline, which they set, so I dont think I'll be trying contracting again for a while!

Many thanks,
Alan

Alan, you have to consider your reputation. Permie jobs are not as secure as they were and you may find yourself contracting again in the very near future. If that happens you will need all the friends you can get and your ex employer would be a very good friend. There is absolutely no point in earning way more money than you need , thats just greed, so I think you have made the right call here. If they contact you, be polite and firmly tell them that you will do no more than ten hours a week unpaid and one weekend per month maximum. Ask them for a written reference and a testimonial saying what a god solid worker you are.
good luck.


one born every minute

[TykeMerc]

Jesus, they terminated the contract yet expect to call you when they please like you're their servant??..

Some good advice above but if you do want to do further work then negotiate a new contract with invoice agreements. If they wont agree to this then you simply say sorry the situation is not workable - end of story.

Further to what Chris said the rate you should charge for Ad-Hoc on demand work (if you were to agree to do it) should be stellar, at least 4x the rate you previously contracted for, billed hourly and with a minimum charge of 4 hours.

Once a contract is over you have no moral or legal obligations to an old client. I set myself high standards and am willing to talk to old clients, but if it involves any work on my behalf I make it very clear that I charge for my time.

[Gonzo]

This client needs to learn that ending a contract, as well as saving them some money, also has an unfortunate negative side to it ; that of not getting the work done anymore. It's confusing for them I know, but it might be worth pointing it out to them.

[Doggy Styles]

Last September I took on a contractor who was very good. And as a bonus he worked loads of overtime without invoicing for it. He was doing the job for the love of it and the sense of duty. I admire that in a contractor.

So, to save some budget I terminated his contract early and he agreed to carry on doing bits of work for nothing.

Don't let anyone tell you that contractors are the scum of the earth.

[chris79]

Jesus, they terminated the contract yet expect to call you when they please like you're their servant??..

Some good advice above but if you do want to do further work then negotiate a new contract with invoice agreements. If they wont agree to this then you simply say sorry the situation is not workable - end of story.

[alanev]

Ah, sorry Threaded, I see what you mean about working with no contract, you meant my working at the weekend after the contract had finished? I was actually working from home, dialed in remotely.

Cheers
Alan

[alanev]

Threaded, I wasn't trying to be a 'soft touch', although unfortunately it probably comes across as such. It was my first contract and I really wanted to make sure that I could make it go well. As such I ended up doing stupid hours, and I mean stupid hours. Still, we learn by our mistakes and the next time I do, or should I say IF I do contracting again, I'll be sure not to make that mistake again. And I'm not sure what you meant about not going on site with a contract? I did have a contract.

The annoying thing is, they still have a 1 weeks timesheet to signoff, I'm hoping they dont starting being funny about that.

I appreciate all the replies, I guess that when I get the phone call on Monday I just say, in as many words, tough luck.

Cheers
Alan

[cojak]

This client needs to learn that ending a contract, as well as saving them some money, also has an unfortunate negative side to it ; that of not getting the work done anymore. It's confusing for them I know, but it might be worth pointing it out to them.

Good point, well made....

[shoes]

Ask yourself this

What will happen if I don't do any more work for these people?


You'll still not get paid, and not have to do any work. Id go with that if I were you.


This client needs to learn that ending a contract, as well as saving them some money, also has an unfortunate negative side to it ; that of not getting the work done anymore. It's confusing for them I know, but it might be worth pointing it out to them.

[cojak]

I don't think he wants anything more to do with them, threaded...

Just be a man and say "Thanks - but No Thanks"....

[threaded]

WHS.

Offer them a work package - talk about money immediately after "Hello! Wasn't expecting you to call so soon!"

Politely refuse to answer any questions until the issue of money and invoicing has been resolved - and ask for a written contract with all negotiations in place.

Do nothing until you have it agreed in writing.

They won't bother you again...

WSS

Apart from the work package, sorry, but you sound a soft touch so maybe taking work on in that way is not something you're ready for yet. I'd suggest you make sure it's a 'time and materials' contract, as it sounds like they like to move goal posts.

[cojak]

..Or simply say.

"I am unable to help you as I'm with another employer which prevents me from working for other companies. Sorry..."

[cojak]

WHS.

Offer them a work package - talk about money immediately after "Hello! Wasn't expecting you to call so soon!"

Politely refuse to answer any questions until the issue of money and invoicing has been resolved - and ask for a written contract with all negotiations in place.

Do nothing until you have it agreed in writing.

They won't bother you again...

[threaded]

First off never ever go on site without a contract. You'll find you're not insured etc. etc. etc. If there'd been an accident you would have been taken to the cleaners and hung out to dry.

By working for no pay means that of course that guy will call you, over and over, and then some, because you're a soft touch.

Don't bother with contracting again if the only way you can get work is by working for nothing.