Re: QUESTION: contract blues

[John Posada <posada -at- FAXSAV -dot- COM>]

Jacqueline...

Here's my take on this...understand that what I'm suggesting is only how =
I would approach this and I've been know to approach things =
"differently".

You cannot be left flapping in the wind subject to their whim, and as =
long as you do, they will leave all of their options open to the =
absolute last minute.  There is nothing wrong with this (I would), it's =
just in their best interest and not yours.  As far as the "job vacancy" =
bit, since you are a contractor, they have no commitment to you....AND =
YOU HAVE NONE TOWARD THEM.

Also, remember, that if you are doing a good job, they aren't going to =
look forward to taking the chance of loosing you if they don't have to. =
Aside from it being a pain in the butt, there are costs associated and =
they know that.

At this point, don't do anything.  In the middle of March, give 45 days =
notice.  Tell them that you will need 45 days to find your next =
assignment, so effective March 15th, you will be looking for a =
replacement contract to take the place of this one just like they will =
be looking for your replacement if she doesn't come back (with the =
implied understanding that should you find anything before they make up =
their mind, you will take it with a standard 2-week notice (which could =
be prior to the end of April).  If they would like to "re-interview" you =
should she not come back, you would be happy to consider their position, =
but their offer must be competitive with any other offers you may be =
considering.

What's now going on is no different from what happens during my =
contracts when they are up for renewal.

Protect yourself...nobody else will.

John Posada


>>>>>Hi.

Here's the details of my problem. I am on contract here, filling in for =
a
lady on maternity leave. We're not sure if she's coming back at all. She =
has
until early April to decide (apparently this is a "legal" thing. She =
went on
leave in late July '97. BTW, my contract ends in the middle of May). I =
would
like some assurance that I have a job here if she doesn't come back.
However, I've been told that that may not happen, because they still =
need to
advertise the job (because it would be a 'job vacancy', not just a need =
for
a contract to cover for someone on leave). Is this a usual and/or legal
thing? Apparently I would be considered as a candidate for the "full =
time
job", but it would not automatically be given to me, even though I've =
been
here for almost 6 months and have been doing the job well. I've asked if
there's a possibility that a document could be drawn up that says "Yes, =
you
have the job IF <blank> doesn't come back", with the understanding that =
if
she *does* come back, they're not obligated to give me a job.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Has anyone been in a similar
situation? If so, what happened? Please e-mail me off list, as I realize
this may not be totally on-topic.

Thanks.

Jacqueline Fry
Documentation Specialist
Array Systems Computing Inc.
1120 Finch Avenue West, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 3H7
Phone: 416-736-0900 ext. 275
E-mail: jfry -at- array -dot- ca

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