When working on a contract (in this case a 1 year contract as a technical architect), when should your company tell you about contract renewal/lack of renewal?

Anonymous

December 15,2023 at 3:54PM UTC

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When working on a contract (in this case a 1 year contract as a technical architect), when should your company tell you about contract renewal/lack of renewal?

I have been working for a company for the last 11 months, my 1 year contract is up at the start of Jan. The technical department and my manager have repeatedly praised my work and the business even requested me for projects.

However, I asked about contract renewal back in November and I am still waiting on anything concrete.

I have been told that the new contract is 'in the works' and 'just going through governance' but I have nothing solid and there are only a few weeks to go.

I am trying to stay motivated but the uncertainty is really getting to me. Should I consider this contract as one that is unlikely to be renewed? If so, why would the company not tell me?

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AnonymousDecember 15,2023 at 4:59PM UTC
Going through the same thing.
Sing my praises with no answers. I'm theoretically done 1/31.
I'm assuming that if they can't give you an answer on a date, the answer is start looking. My work tells me "wait and see " but I'm not waiting on a potential "no" until the last minute. It's my life, not theirs.
If I get something, I provide a 2w notice with a potential to match the other offer
AnonymousDecember 15,2023 at 5:26PM UTC
Went through the same thing, decided not to wait and took a new job. I was so glad I did, when at the next staff meeting another contractor said goodbye. Despite outstanding work, and his team and supervisors loving him, upper management hadn't taken the necessary steps to rehire. Now, both the contractor and the department are in dire straits, and no one is happy. My suggestion? Start looking elsewhere.
Tammy JordanDecember 15,2023 at 6:08PM UTC
30 days prior to term end date.
AnonymousDecember 15,2023 at 9:03PM UTC
There should be language in your contract outlining renewal of the term.
AnonymousDecember 19,2023 at 11:59PM UTC
I was in your place a few weeks ago. For me, they kept changing the goalposts. They told us that we would have news by November 15th and then they told us December 1. In my case, the whole team ended up not being renewed. But that is the worst case scenario. Here are some things you can do now:
1. Look on your contract. You may have a date by which they have to notify you. I THOUGHT my contract read that they have to notify you within 60 days either way but one of my coworkers pointed out it was 60 day IF they planned on renewing. Once I read that, I realized no news was not good. But check your contract, it may be completely different.
2. See if you have someone you can ask that is not your boss. In my case, our team had a 'handler' that served as the intermediary between contract workers and staff. I ended up asking him directly. I felt like he was a bit evasive, but taking action helped and it gave me a better indication of where thing were at the moment.
3. Try and read the tea leaves. Are all your projects winding down? Are they asking you to document things you do each day?
4. Ask your manager directly but politely. Let them know with the year coming to an end you wanted to make sure that your projects are taken care of and ask if there is something you may need to do, etc? Keep it professional and unemotional, of course.
5. Get your resume ready now and use this time so you can properly document what you have done over the past year. It is easier when you have your work computer.
I am really not sure how it will turn out for you. I used a prepare the the worst but hope for the best strategy and that worked for me. But I am super-glad I prepared my resume and did all that. And who knows, they might really not know yet or even someone forgot to tell you but don't just sit and let January come without a plan and speaking up. Oh and by the way, if they say just come to work on January 2nd without a new contract, decide if you are willing to do that. Sometimes that happens especially in start-ups (looking at you tech world). If you are willing to take a risk, do it. But think over how you want to respond to that scenario before it happens.
Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Laura CavanaghMarch 1,2024 at 1:36PM UTC
Thanks for your comments everyone. In the end my contract was renewed for another year, just to let you know. I was told 3 weeks before the contract ended. I am glad I chased up the recruiter on this as I feel that it sped up the process.
Alex AlexeeevJune 14,2024 at 11:48AM UTC
I see you're talking about contracts. If you want to protect your project on blockchain, I suggest you learn about blockchain auditing services. With these services, you can protect projects quickly and reliably. When I started my project, I can say that blockchain auditing services helped me to set up a security system so that my project would be as safe as possible