Contract termination with no cause - thoughts?

[zukuss]

Hey guys,

Hope I'm in the right category... I debated between Careers and Society but this one seemed right.

So Here's my story: I've been working as a contractor for that big oil and gas company for 3.5yrs+. One of the few still doing well in this climate. Back to back contracts, the current one was to be done on Jun-30. It might have been extended for a last 6mths but I doubted it.

For the past several years, we had to deal with that lazy a-hole employee guy with a huge ego that led him to be in trouble with HR a number of times. All his peers, at best, tolerate him, and some go all the way to despise him. Some of my managers told me they tried hard to make me officially replace him but without success. Our management told me one day the only reason he's still there is because he made friends with the right VPs. In the end, lots of unnecessary drama. And problem is - I was the one who had to work with him almost on a daily basis. It went so bad lately that I collected in a spreadsheet all the bad attitudes, criticisms and marks of disrespect he was showing me, his yelling and other fun stuff. I felt I could survive this until the end of June, but someone had to do something about it - that company communicates a lot about integrity and respect, so they have to do something at some point, right?
I said no one I was collecting these.

This morning, our new boss (that I never met before) told me my contract was terminated immediately and I had 10min to collect my stuff. I asked if I did something wrong, he answered no, and I didn't miss any deliverables, it is just a management decision and he doesn't know anything about it, and actually learnt about this right this morning. He escorted me to outside the building, where my account rep had a coffee with me, told me what he knew (not much - he believes the drama queen got me evicted, and they're now looking for a kid for half my rate as a 6mths contract to replace me). Apparently I'll get 2 weeks full-time pay and that's it. Felt like being in an Hollywood movie, walking on the sidewalk carrying my box of stuff...

So two questions arose:
- 3.5yrs+ of probably 7-8 back to back contracts, is 2 weeks pay, no notice and immediate termination with no mistake done, acceptable practice (I'm not asking morally, but more legally)?
- that guy's attitude and the evidence I collected. I could just let it go but I feel I should use it, to be fair to my coworkers, and to give that guy what he deserves.

If this is what it is and there's nothing to do, I'm OK with it. Already have leads on a new job. Doesn't feel right how some employees get treated though...

Thoughts?

[benyl]

Originally posted by zukuss

So two questions arose:
- 3.5yrs+ of probably 7-8 back to back contracts, is 2 weeks pay, no notice and immediate termination with no mistake done, acceptable practice (I'm not asking morally, but more legally)?
- that guy's attitude and the evidence I collected. I could just let it go but I feel I should use it, to be fair to my coworkers, and to give that guy what he deserves.

If this is what it is and there's nothing to do, I'm OK with it. Already have leads on a new job. Doesn't feel right how some employees get treated though...

Thoughts?

1. Your contract likely stipulates 10 business days notice for termination. That is why you are getting 2 weeks pay. Only your last contract matters. 7-8 back to back contracts are meaningless. If you became an employee today, you would have zero seniority. You work for your numbered company, not the oil and gas company.
2. You are not employee. You have no standing and HR doesn't give two shits about you and your evidence. You have a problem, talk to your number company HR rep (that being you). Why do you want to burn a potential bridge? When oil is back up, you might be able to return to that oil company.

Why are you crying about how you are treated? I say again, you aren't an employee of the oil company. You got paid extra being a contractor and took the risk of being let go with 10 days notice at any time.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[zukuss]

That confirms my initial thoughts. People were shocked I got terminated and gave me weird advice regarding my pay. Thanks for confirming what I initially thought. And not burning a bridge, my thought as well. Unfair but that's life.

The reason of replacing me with a kid is to have someone that will likely unofficially report to that guy and say yes to all his crazy demands. I feel sorry for him. There was previously a coop student doing that and it didn't end well.

Originally posted by benyl
Why are you crying about how you are treated?

I enjoy when people make stupid assumptions I'm asking questions while providing context. If I needed to cry, I would have left that company a couple of years ago. Calling at night, yelling at people, criticizing being your back and taking advantage of you, if you want to experience harassment on the workplace at its finest, I can hook you up

[ExtraSlow]

I hate to say it, but that's the trade-off with being a contractor. You are lucky they are paying your two weeks. They probably could get out of that if they felt like it. Most contracts have several outs for the corporation.
The reasons contractors are paid more per hour than employees is for exactly this situation. They can be dropped at a moments notice, and that's worth something to the company. It's a shitty way to treat people, but honestly, that's the choice you make in being a contractor. At some point in your last 3.5+ years they probably asked if you'd like to become an employee, and you probably declined.

I've had to let contractors go, ones who felt they were very valued members of the team. Had one actually cry in my office. I felt bad for him, but what can I do, that same dude had refused to become an employee not six months earlier. I heard the next job he got was as an employee. That cracked me up.

TLDR: Suck it up princess, no go out there and get your next job.

[rx7boi]

Being a contractor blows chunks unless you are making excellent money in a niche market and your skill set is not easily replaceable.

It's even worse being a contractor getting paid peanuts lol.

[benyl]

Originally posted by zukuss

I enjoy when people make stupid assumptions I'm asking questions while providing context. If I needed to cry, I would have left that company a couple of years ago. Calling at night, yelling at people, criticizing being your back and taking advantage of you, if you want to experience harassment on the workplace at its finest, I can hook you up

All chargeable time. I'm not sure how you can be taken advantage of as a contractor. If they want you to do shit jobs for great pay, I say why not? If you are getting shitty pay, then you stayed too long.

[Robin Goodfellow]

Originally posted by zukuss

If this is what it is and there's nothing to do, I'm OK with it. Already have leads on a new job. Doesn't feel right how some employees get treated though...

Thoughts?

The company made a choice and has to live with the outcome.

Unless they're paying you a consulting fee to advise them on improving their staff, you'd be doing them a free service by ratting out the jerk they chose over you.

Otherwise, you have no skin in their game, and are free to move on to your next adventure.

[phreezee]

I thought the point of being a contractor was not having to deal with office politics. I think you should have just kept quiet and let karma take care of this guy. Life lesson learnt, move on and good luck.

[suntan]

Originally posted by benyl


1. Your contract likely stipulates 10 business days notice for termination.

Wow, very generous. Co-owner did some contract work up north, his contract stated 4 hours notice and ride to the airport.

[benyl]

Originally posted by suntan
Wow, very generous. Co-owner did some contract work up north, his contract stated 4 hours notice and ride to the airport.

He was lucky to get a ride to the airport. I know some of the layoffs at the end of last year and early this year had people stranded at site.

[suntan]

Yup, I think the only reason he had that in there was because he's a professional as opposed to a workhand.