Job Dilema

[marty_t3]

I'm due to finish my contract in 2 weeks time. So, i've been applying for jobs and have been giving the various agencies and potental employers a availability date of the end of April.

I was offered another job last month (pending reference, security and credit checks etc). I verbally accepted the offer and the wheels were set in motion. I was given a provisional start date of April 28th.

Now on my current contract, i'm required to give one months notice. This would not have been a problem as i was due to end my current contract in a few weeks (though i have not had it confirmed in writing).

This morning i got to work and checked my e-mail and only had 2 messages.

One was confirmation of the job offer, saying the checks came back ok, and, giving me a definite start date of the 28th of April. I'm now in a position to hand in my notice to my current employer.

The other e-mail was from my current boss saying that my post here is being continued until August.

I'm now left having to give my current employer only 2 weeks notice. This is made worse by the fact that i'm on assignment 220 miles from the rest of my department. There are only about 5 people on the planet who can do my job at the moment so this makes me very hard to replace. Someone from my department in Edinburgh would have to move to Yorkshire for 4 months. I know for a fact that none of them want to do that.

Any ideas how i should break the news to my current employer that they're about to be royally screwed over???

[marty_t3]

Just had one of my bosses on the phone asking if i could possibly stay on till August.... i told him i'd give him an answer tomorrow.

I guess it might not be that bad having to break the news now since they're asking me if i want to stay on. I thought they'd just assume i would.

[symbol]

IMO look after No 1, don't worry about any1 else :eek: i'm sure they would'nt think of you if it was the other way round ;)
good luck :D

[Wak]

Read the post a few times and I still can't work it out :o it's early.

Look after number one though and do what you want. If you are that difficult to replace then they might make you an offer you can't refuse.

I'm curious BTW, what do you do that only 5 other people can?

[marty_t3]

Wak, I look after a rather dated banking system based on OS/2. It's being phased out and replaced with NT and 2000 platforms and the project i'm working on is environment testing between the two. My depatment in Edinburgh configure the OS/2 servers so there's only a limited number of people who know how it's done. It's not particularly difficult... they just use a lot of software that isn't used by anyone outside my department. I've been working on the project on my own (the OS/2 side anyway) for the last 9 months so there's very few people who could pick up where i left off.

[Dom_S13]

Go where the job and the money is. I take it this new job is offering more.

What I would tell your boss, is you are giving your notice in because you need security and more money (which this new job will provide). You feel bad for leaving him in the lurch but you have to think of yourself.

This way you leave on nice terms, and if you are lucky he might extend your contract and up your pay to keep you on.

That is how I would play it.

[marty_t3]

Sorry it's a bit confusing. I'll try and explain a bit better.


I work for Company A

They sub-contract me to Comapny B

They in turn, sub-contract me to Comapny C

That is the job that is now to continue till August.




The new job is working directly for Company C starting in April



If i leave Company A, i'll be indirectly affecting Company C even if my new job is actually with them.



Point taken about looking after #1 though. Got a kid to support now and a 200 to spend money on so i wanna make sure i don't screw this up.

[Wak]

That is confusing, I understand a bit better now. :)

[marty_t3]

My boss knows that the job i have at the moment isn't secure... Their contract with company C ends in August anyway so i'd be looking for a new job then anyway.

This new job actually pays a bit less but since i'm based in their building at the moment i've had a chance to see how they work. Everyone i've spoken to is happy in their job so i already know which of the 2 employers would be best for me.

The sticky bit will be if my current boss asks me who my new job is with.... It's kind of frowned upon going to work directly for a customer (even though i did get the job through external channels)

[JB]

Originally posted by marty_t3
My boss knows that the job i have at the moment isn't secure... Their contract with company C ends in August anyway so i'd be looking for a new job then anyway.

This new job actually pays a bit less but since i'm based in their building at the moment i've had a chance to see how they work. Everyone i've spoken to is happy in their job so i already know which of the 2 employers would be best for me.

The sticky bit will be if my current boss asks me who my new job is with.... It's kind of frowned upon going to work directly for a customer (even though i did get the job through external channels)

If yur contract was due to expare at end of April then there is no need to give notice. After that time you canwork for who you want, customer or not.

If your present employer wishes to extend you contract they will have to do it with your agreement (assuming there isn't a clause allowing them to extend it without consultation).

Sounds an easy choice to make considering that it'll all be over in August anyway. Go for the new job. Pay may be less but it's better than no pay at all.

Just MHO :)

[gaz.thomas]

Provided that company C have no problems with your current employment then I'd go for that job. At the end of the day you've got to go for security. Is company C paying contract rates BTW???

Gaz
-x-

[marty_t3]

I don't think there'll be any big problems... just a bit concerned about the team i'm working with at the moment. They work in the same part of the building that my new job will be. It means i'd have to knock back the contract extension i've been offered... leave the team in the lurch... then walk past them in the corridor the next day when i go to sit at my new desk. But i suppose as everyone has said, i should be looking after myself cuz my employer sure as s**t won't..

With regards to the wage difference.... it's just a few thou a year less but i'm starting the new job on the base rate so it has plenty of room to go up once i've been there for a year or so..

[Martin T]

Contractually you're fine if it's due to end anyway. If your team gives you shit then just tell them like it is - what would they do?
If the company contracts you until a certain time, then they cant expect you to stay on for longer.