two week notice on a contract assignment?

brianeaglesfan

So I'm currently working a 60-day contract assignment and 7 weeks into it have accepted another 90-day assignment that has me starting 1/17. The 60-day assignment is not some critical to the success of the company type position, basically it's doing grunt tech support that other permanent employees can readily get done. I submitted my notice today, and got the attitude from the contract company that I had broken some unspoken covenant that requires a 2 week notice (my quoted last day is 1/14).

What's the opinion of the masses here?

This position is 1 of those that can readily be dropped from the resume if so desired. And I don't have a problem with not getting to work with the contract agency again either. But should I have demanded the capability to give company 1 a 2 week notice though my run was ending at the end of it anyway?

Hypntick

brianeaglesfan wrote: »

So I'm currently working a 60-day contract assignment and 7 weeks into it have accepted another 90-day assignment that has me starting 1/17. The 60-day assignment is not some critical to the success of the company type position, basically it's doing grunt tech support that other permanent employees can readily get done. I submitted my notice today, and got the attitude from the contract company that I had broken some unspoken covenant that requires a 2 week notice (my quoted last day is 1/14).

What's the opinion of the masses here?

This position is 1 of those that can readily be dropped from the resume if so desired. And I don't have a problem with not getting to work with the contract agency again either. But should I have demanded the capability to give company 1 a 2 week notice though my run was ending at the end of it anyway?

To me the 2 week notice, depending on your states laws, is more of a courtesy than anything. Here in TN we're at will employment, so if I just want to quit the job, I walk up to the boss, say I quit and there ya go. But the reverse also works, I can be let go for pretty much no reason at all.

It's a contract that ends on the 14th, new job starts the 17th. You provided at least 1.5 weeks notice, I think you did no less than most reasonable people would do.

brianeaglesfan

Hypntick wrote: »

To me the 2 week notice, depending on your states laws, is more of a courtesy than anything. Here in TN we're at will employment, so if I just want to quit the job, I walk up to the boss, say I quit and there ya go. But the reverse also works, I can be let go for pretty much no reason at all.

It's a contract that ends on the 14th, new job starts the 17th. You provided at least 1.5 weeks notice, I think you did no less than most reasonable people would do.

The actual contract for company 1 would've run until 1/22 from my estimation.

Being in Tejas we're an at will state too, and traditionally I would've tried submitting a 2 week notice, but given how you're typically treated on contract jobs I'm a little less concerned with extending that courtesy. The people I've worked with are great but the company and type of work left a sour taste in my mouth, and I'm just ready to move on to bigger and better things.

Hypntick

brianeaglesfan wrote: »

The actual contract for company 1 would've run until 1/22 from my estimation.

Being in Tejas we're an at will state too, and traditionally I would've tried submitting a 2 week notice, but given how you're typically treated on contract jobs I'm a little less concerned with extending that courtesy. The people I've worked with are great but the company and type of work left a sour taste in my mouth, and I'm just ready to move on to bigger and better things.

Yeah being at will, 1.5 weeks is acceptable I think. The contracting company may not like it very much, however everyone understands the need to move up and move on at some point. Good luck on the new job, mine starts the 17th as well.

brianeaglesfan

Hypntick wrote: »

Good luck on the new job, mine starts the 17th as well.

Thanks, good luck to you as well!

mikej412

My contracts usually have a 30 days notice clause -- and they had to give me 2 week in my current job, until we change it to 30 days notice each way on one of the renewals.

If you signed a contract it should have an end date. If you leave before your end date and don't give the contractually agreed upon notice, then you may be breaching the contract.

brianeaglesfan

mikej412 wrote: »

My contracts usually have a 30 days notice clause -- and they had to give me 2 week in my current job, until we change it to 30 days notice each way on one of the renewals.

If you signed a contract it should have an end date. If you leave before your end date and don't give the contractually agreed upon notice, then you may be breaching the contract.

I read over the agreement and there was no stated notice clause. Trust me, I thought of that before accepting the other position.

mikej412

brianeaglesfan wrote: »

I read over the agreement and there was no stated notice clause.

There might not be on a short contract. Was there a start date and/or end date or length of contract on anything you signed?

What about verbal agreements? A verbal agreement for under a year could be a valid contract.

But for low end jobs you probably don't have too much to worry about.

brianeaglesfan

mikej412 wrote: »

There might not be on a short contract. Was there a start date and/or end date or length of contract on anything you signed?

What about verbal agreements? A verbal agreement for under a year could be a valid contract.

But for low end jobs you probably don't have too much to worry about.

The contract stated it was for 60 days and with the notice actually stretches over 60 days. They pushed my start week back a week but the contract has the original start day mentioned.

mikej412

brianeaglesfan wrote: »

They pushed my start week back a week but the contract has the original start day mentioned.

Now that makes it sound like you have nothing to worry about.

Good Luck (and Congratulations!! ) with the new job!!