MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Worked for the same Co for 25+ years and got made redundant due to restructure. Month after I get made redundant I got another job - contract basis - been there for about 18 months now.
There have been a number of re-orgs over this time with staff and contractors going. My own role went recently but I got kept on.
I've been supporting a project part-time and recently the 2 full time folks on it decided to leave as other opportunities presented themselves. My new boss has recently started and I've now been asked to work on this project full time and my day job will be back-filled. He is going to be responsible for project delivery.
This concerns me as there may not be a job for me once the project completes. I've stated this concern and the response has been that I will get a written guarantee that I will get a job back in the base org and someone will get displaced to accommodate my return. I've also been asked what more they could do to influence me taking this on.
So....I feel between a rock and a hard place as the project work ticks all my satisfaction boxes but still a concern that I may have no job once project completed. The role will involve off-site work a few days a week - more travel but mileage rate will cover incremental travel costs. I'm concerned about being out of sight and out of mind.
Ideally I'd like to keep my existing desk plus I'd personally like a switch from contractor to staff, although that would reduce income but give me some comfort. However my contract has 1 month notice period. I'd just like to be part of the staff 'family'. Whether this confers any practical benefits who really knows.
One of the folks who did leave let it slip what he was being paid...a noticeable bit more than I was.
I have honestly no idea whether to say yeah or neah.....
Oh, if I say no I apparently still get to keep my job, they will just have to recruit someone else for the project then try to get them up to speed.....
Communication is the key. Talk to your Bosses and try and get some assurances on your future. It's always good to throw in a comment about offers from elsewhere if you feel you are in a strong position to push for more dosh.
Seems obvious to me that you've got passion for the company, just make sure that you make that clear, work hard for the project and then fight your corner RE: contract/money when you know what your walking back into post-project. Also, to jump into a new role after 25yrs should give you confidence you can do it again if the need arises!
I'd personally like a switch from contractor to staff, although that would reduce income but give me some comfort. However my contract has 1 month notice period. I'd just like to be part of the staff 'family'. Whether this confers any practical benefits who really knows.
Go staff, it's much harder to get rid of staff than contractors (ie no reason needed for contractors at all) it should mean they are then obliged to take care of you and some other contractor will get bumped.
Although presumably he'd be on probation for 6+ months if he changed to staff so not many rights.
I wouldn't put too much value in a written guarantee, it's easy enough to manage people out if you need to but it does sound like they're trying to help rather than just lead you on. I'd probably just take the project work offer, mention the pay (if you feel under-paid) and look for other opportunities to cover yourself when the project is nearing completion (when is the project supposed to be delivered?)
What ?? You are a contractor FFS - you bump up your day rate adequately to reflect the non-ongoing nature of the job and the shortage of people with your key skills.
Do you want the job or not ? It sounds like you want the best of all worlds - the project job and the promise of a permanent post somewhere else at the end. Bit of a dream perhaps ??
Ask for twice your current day rate, then find out how much you are worth to them.
P.S or the Coles Notes version - man up Shirley.
Being a staff member means sod all these days, Dave and his business owner mates from University made sure of that.
2 years before you become remotely secure