Contract extension hasn't arrived. Do I still work?

[Big Rod]

Odd situation at the moment...

Last contract expired on Friday, (16th), with a view to a new one being issued forthwith.

Two days later and still no contract and ironically enough I'm meant to be on-call this week.

I operate as a Ltd Co' so I wonder if I'm obliged to do any work from an insurance perspective. I mean, will my company insurance cover me in the unlikely event of something going wrong?

I'm all for a bit of 'goodwill', but I don't want to hang myself 'out to dry'.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to recieving advice.

[Piersman2]

Hmmm... interesting one.

I've worked several times with no contract. This year started off waiting 6 weeks for an offical confirmation to the agent that I was going to be paid for. However the client's good for the money and the agency were happy paying me whilst waiting for the paperwork.

If the insurance aspect is more of an issue for you then I would phone the insurance and ask if they are covering you ( I suspect they will be as the insurance will be for your LTD company regardless of whether you are actually in contract or not).

If not you may need to raise this to the client and tell them that you are un-insured and what do they want to do about it.

Worst case is you end up being told to go home and don't get back again for being a whingeing ninny.

[blindswelledrat]

Almost certain that your insurance is completely unrelated to your contract, thus you don't need to worry about that.
As long as you are just carrying on your normal business.

[Big Rod]

Piersman2 said:

I've worked several times with no contract. This year started off waiting 6 weeks for an offical confirmation to the agent that I was going to be paid for. However the client's good for the money and the agency were happy paying me whilst waiting for the paperwork.

There's the thing, I'm direct to the client. No agency involved so no buffer. Agencies are good that way, they'll pay you in lieu, but I'm running 8-10 weeks behind on remittance. And I've been on the razors edge with contracts before, but all I have, other a couple of emails of 'intent' is white noise.

Piersman2 said:

If the insurance aspect is more of an issue for you then I would phone the insurance and ask if they are covering you ( I suspect they will be as the insurance will be for your LTD company regardless of whether you are actually in contract or not).

I did call them and they said that my company itself is insured but whether that's applicable to mistakes during acts of goodwill is a bit of a grey area. When it comes down to it, it's an insurance company and if they can get out of paying out they will.

Piersman2 said:

If not you may need to raise this to the client and tell them that you are un-insured and what do they want to do about it.

They say they want to keep me on, but the 'group' I work with is in a bit of a state of flux at the moment and no-one seems to know who's liable to pay for who or what. I've been told the contract's in the pipeline, I have an email from the account manager instructing the relevant parties to JFDI and they even had me provide a quote for the extension which is a new one on me. They've had months to sort his out and while I appreciate many corp's leave it till the last minute, they don't seem to know their ar5e from their elbow. I mean, how long does it take to fill in the blanks on a pre-written contract?

Piersman2 said:

Worst case is you end up being told to go home and don't get back again for being a whingeing ninny.

I hear you, and I do have a conscience but I'm being jerked about a bit at the moment so I'm a little hesitant to potentially put myself on the line.

Oh, and as I'm meant to be on call, I'm WFH this week so to go home I just need to walk the three feet to my office door!! LOL

[Big Rod]

blindswelledrat said:

Almost certain that your insurance is completely unrelated to your contract, thus you don't need to worry about that.
As long as you are just carrying on your normal business.

So if I break something that I haven't been officially invited to work on, (OK, the chances are slim!), they'll pay out?

[anonymous-user]

You don't need a bit of paper to have a contract. If oyu have been offered work on terms which have been orally agreed, or can be inferred from the previous contract, you can take the work.

Whether you want to, particularly if your client is behind on payment, is a business judgment for you to make.

[jonah35]

Keep emails just in case

[Big Rod]

jonah35 said:

Keep emails just in case

Ooooooh yes!

I was assured I'd have it in my inbox by COP today and it hasn't materialised.

[spikeyhead]

Big Rod said:

jonah35 said:

Keep emails just in case

Ooooooh yes!

I was assured I'd have it in my inbox by COP today and it hasn't materialised.

Go and sit in the office of whoever can sort it out and don't leave until you have it.

[john2443]

I've certainly been a week or so without a contract and have continued on the basis that my boss has said it's being renewed and waiting for HR or who ever to get their finger out, if otherwise you would be sitting at home not earning you haven't lost anything if it doesn't materialise; if you could have been doing something else then you have lost.

Try being very late one day and see how long till they phone and ask where you are

[Big Rod]

john2443 said:

I've certainly been a week or so without a contract and have continued on the basis that my boss has said it's being renewed and waiting for HR or who ever to get their finger out, if otherwise you would be sitting at home not earning you haven't lost anything if it doesn't materialise; if you could have been doing something else then you have lost.

Try being very late one day and see how long till they phone and ask where you are

Yeah, that's fine, I've even started new contracts on a promise but this is different and the longer it goes on the more uncomfortable I'm feeling about it. It's an odd situation anyway and to be honest I'm a bit of an expensive but necessary evil in their eyes and would rather someone else paid for me.

The problem is with their procurement department in Munich apparently who seem to be dragging their heels with raising the purchase order which should've been done and dusted weeks ago.

I've been told by my line manager to put my feet up and wait for his call but my conscience is keeping me logged in and helping the other less skilled members of the team deal with 'stuff' that they're a bit out of their depth with. Not touching anything critical directly though.

Not much in the market at the moment either otherwise I'd be soliciting myself elsewhere.

[anonymous-user]

Well, record and bill your time. If you render services which are accepted, at the least you have a right to a reasonable payment on the restitutionary principle known, in a forbidden language, as quantum valebat.

[Big Rod]

Breadvan72 said:

Well, record and bill your time. If you render services which are accepted, at the least you have a right to a reasonable payment on the restitutionary principle known, in a forbidden language, as quantum valebat.

Duly noted, thanks!!