SA Developer .NET

So, my contract ends at the end of this month, and I basically started speaking to my company about renewing it about two months ago... I asked for a significant increase because from my research and what my girlfriend tells me (she's a recruiter) my rate was quite low. Anyway, for the last two months I've been asking my company about the contract, and they keep telling me they're waiting for the client to make their decision (whether or not they'll increase the rate that much).

My company obviously has their margin on top of my rate (which they won't tell me) but I'm pretty sure what I've asked for is below that, so basically if they renewed my contract with my asking rate they would still be making something off me even if the client didn't increase the rate they pay them. However they don't want to do that, from what they told me they didn't increase their margin, they simply added it to my asking rate and therefore asked the client for a significant increase as well.

They've also assured me that no matter what, if the client doesn't increase the rate and they "can't" pay me what I'm asking for they'll find another client that will. That's all good with me, except they don't want to put that in writing - i.e. they won't actually give me a new contract yet. My contract says absolutely nothing about which client they will place me at or anything like that so if they are definitely no matter what going to keep me on it would make sense that they would be able to give me a new contract, wouldn't it?

So me not wanting to be left without a job, went for a test and subsequent interview and now I've been offered another contract at another company with my asking rate - proving I wasn't asking too much! It took about a week in total from the test to the offer.

So now I'm going to take that contract, but I'm just curious, am I obliged (even by just plain courtesy) to let my current company know? And if I should, then when should I, after I've signed the contract with the other company or do I let them know now that it's in the pipeline?

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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I reckon you should make them aware that there's "something else in the pipeline". That way it'll speed up the process a bit, if you can't wait, then go with the other company and then only tell them that you've signed off as they came back to you in black and white.

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'Not everything is binary, if you look closer you might find some hexadecimal in there somewhere'

From what I remember of my contracting days companies work in two ways. If you contract contains a resignation procedure, even if the contract is about to expire you still need to for fill the notice obligations etc. If it doesn't say anything you need to follow the labour act and provide written intent of ending the contract within 2 weeks of the contract expiring.

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Supplying the masses with useless information since 1996

The views, comments and opinions expressed in this post is that of the poster alone unless otherwise indicated

Diago.co.za

I think you should them, even if the end goal is just to keep the relations between them and you OK.

I've learned that this is a small world, and you never know, maybe you'll encounter them (or some of them) again sometime in the future and they are the deciding factors on whether or not you can get that new contract you've been eyeing.

As an example, between my previous jobs, I think I've had about 4 or so offers from previous people I worked with, or who worked under me, or above me, offering me better positions than when we were working together.

I've also learned from friends who left their companies in a huff, without warning, consulting with their bosses, etc, and they regretted it dearly.

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!

So, I decided to tell them, will wait and see wot happens...

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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i agree with horatio ... remember this is a very very small world and one thing i've learnt in the many years i've been doing this is that burning bridges is never a good idea! you never know when you will cross paths again.

Heat_Rash:

So, I decided to tell them, will wait and see wot happens...

Good luck!!!!!

Remember to tell us what happened!!!!!

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!

This is soooo interesting tell us more Heat

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The most important of my discoveries have been suggested to me by my failures.

Yeah Heat tell us mooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee!!!!

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codey:

This is soooo interesting tell us more Heat

fridgi:

Yeah Heat tell us mooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee!!!!

Hahahaha... I thought you guys might have some funny comments... I've mailed the relevant people, I have been as open as possible about this now it's just a matter of waiting and seeing, besides, they've made me wait over two months so far, so I'm being very courteous in my opinion...

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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Why is always you have to do something drastic like threaten to quit before something happens?

I get the feeling "dropping into a comfort zone", like the company you are working for now, is a motto for them. They have gotten so used to you being around, they haven't even given it a second thought that you won't go. Maybe this will wake them up.

Same thing happened to me when I was contracted out from my firm a few months ago, I kept on going in every day and doing what I was assigned. Only when I started querying my boss at the home company, and the big boss at the contracted place, did I finally learn what was going on.

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!

Heat_Rash:

I've mailed the relevant people, I have been as open as possible about this now it's just a matter of waiting and seeing, besides, they've made me wait over two months so far, so I'm being very courteous in my opinion...

2 months?  I would have made up my mind by now to go with the new offer.  Being messed around is not cool, and if management sees that you'll put up with once, they'll know you'll put up with again and take advantage of that fact...

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Someone once told me love makes the world go around and, well, I just had to laugh in their face because EVERYBODY knows what REALLY makes the world go around is a mutant gerbil on a treadmill.

Kitten:

2 months?  I would have made up my mind by now to go with the new offer.  Being messed around is not cool, and if management sees that you'll put up with once, they'll know you'll put up with again and take advantage of that fact...

Actually, this is my second time round with this company, first time I left, didn't like the place I went to, and came back... 

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"I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code"
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horatio:

I get the feeling "dropping into a comfort zone", like the company you are working for now, is a motto for them. They have gotten so used to you being around, they haven't even given it a second thought that you won't go. Maybe this will wake them up.

  You should have seen the look on my boss's face when I told him back in April that I was going to quit...

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Gail Shaw - SQL In the Wild
SQL Server MVP
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Chaos, panic and disorder. My job here is done!

GilaMonster:

horatio:

I get the feeling "dropping into a comfort zone", like the company you are working for now, is a motto for them. They have gotten so used to you being around, they haven't even given it a second thought that you won't go. Maybe this will wake them up.

  You should have seen the look on my boss's face when I told him back in April that I was going to quit...

Ha ha!!!! I know what that is like. When I quit the job before the previous one, my soon-to-be ex-boss started smoking again!!!!!!!!

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The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!