TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Ethics of Jumping To Another Contract Job From:John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:Richard Lewis <tech44writer -at- yahoo -dot- com>, jan -dot- arnopolin -at- thomson -dot- com, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:09:45 -0700 (PDT)
>Now, a much better paying opportunity avails itself. Ethically,
>would you move on? Will the current company give me a "Do Not Re-Hire"
>check in my personnel file?
Richard...by now you've reaslized the error of not including a condition that any extension requires an exam of the rates...doesn't mean you will change them, but it gives the option of opening the discussion.
Having been a contractor previous to where I am now, for 18 years, my feeling is you do the absolute best you can every day up to the morning of the last day you are there. However, just as the company can teminiate a contract in the middle of a deliverable, so can you. Now, I'd do everything in my power to minimize the pain...probably give an extra week notice; 3 weeks, offer to assist in finding a replacement with the same skills, make every effort to produce even more in the three weeks than normal to make up for the loss of production they are going to experience during the gap, and make sure that what you leave is as clean as possible for the next person...but none of this is more than what a professional does anyway, right?
Twice I ended a contract mid period after renewall and at neither one did I experience issues...reasonable managers understand how this happens and with unreasonable ones, if this isn't an issue, another one would have come along soon enough.
Besides...that's why you are a contractor. You are designed by the company to be disposable. However, this applies both ways.
John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
"They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever.
So far, so good."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
