UPDATE 9/28 - Question for contractors/subcontractors

[purbeast0]

UPDATE 9/28

So the initial offer was about a 11% raise. the thing is, the new company doesn't cover health/dental/vision 100% which my old company does, so that would be coming out of my pocket, which would be like $500/mo for my family and I. So I said f that.

They asked me what I would consider and I highballed a number which is about 42% raise.

They came back with a 36% raise.

I'm going to let them know by Friday and start Monday if so. Chances are I'm going to take this though. It's a serious raise and will be EXTREMELY helpful (obviously heh). It will also set a new standard for a salary for me in my career.

ORIGINAL

I currently work at a company that was working on a contract with the government that went up for recompete. Yesterday we find out that our company did not win the recompete.

LITERALLY like 15 minutes after my company told us the bad news, the compan who did win it called me to tell me they won the contract, and they were wondering if I'd be interested in coming on board with them and keep working on the project.

The contract was extended one month, so I at least have work at my current job for another month. However my current company has 1 spot they think I may be a fit for and are working with that client to try and finalize somethings, because of a requirement that I don't meet but they would be willing to pay for training. The location kind of sucks though, but he did say they allow work from home a lot.

They also have a couple contracts they bid on that will be announced by the end of this month, which have 10 spots that will be available and they will try to fill.

So basically I have a few options currently, but it seems that nothing is 100% guaranteed at this point, except working with the new company who put a bid in on this current contract we just lost.

I've been here about 20 months, and have a lot of valuable knowledge. There are others here who have more than me as well. If a whole new team of people came into this environment and tried to figure out what is going on, it would take them well over a year to understand wtf is going on and how the code base works. Hell it would take them long just to understand the business rules in everything.

So my question is, has anyone ever been in this situation before? I feel that I'm in a very good position with this new company where I could get a significant raise. Basically I feel I'm in the "you need me more than I need you" situation. And in this instance, knowledge of the application is virtually priceless. And while I don't have anything 100% guaranteed with my current company, there COULD be stuff lined up, I just have to wait a little bit and see.

So has anyone been in this position before, and if so, what did you do? I'm just trying to weigh all my options now and hear from people who have had to go through this. I currently like the company i work for A LOT, and the way they treat employees, and when I do talk to this new company, I'm going to bring up that fact to them and see if their culture is similar to the current one. That will make a huge impact on my decision.

 

[Lifted]

So my question is, has anyone ever been in this situation before?

No, nobody has been in your exact situation, and nobody can tell you what the best course of action will be as there are too many factors at play. Employer, boss, coworkers, job security, benefits, hours, upward potential, learning & training opportunities / skill advancement, etc.

 

[her209]

Non-compete agreement... look it up.

 

[purbeast0]

No, nobody has been in your exact situation, and nobody can tell you what the best course of action will be as there are too many factors at play. Employer, boss, coworkers, job security, benefits, hours, upward potential, learning & training opportunities / skill advancement, etc.

thanks captain obvious.

i was asking if people had every been in a situation where the contract they were working on was awarded to someone else and they had the opportunity to jump on board w/the new company, and if so, what did they do and how did it play out.

but continue to feel good about yourself by trolling, it fuels the internet.

 

[purbeast0]

Non-compete agreement... look it up.

we don't have that here. infact everyone is having 1 on 1's w/the higher ups here, and they know one of the options we all have is to stay on the project w/the new company, and they would fully back us if we did that w/good recommendations, because they understand we have to do what is best for us.

 

[Exterous]

IMO I would talk to the new company to at least find out the compensation they are offering.

I will say that it has been my experience that liking the company you work for is a big bonus. If it were me and they pay was about the same I would stay at the company I know and know that I like working for

 

[Lifted]

thanks captain obvious.

i was asking if people had every been in a situation where the contract they were working on was awarded to someone else and they had the opportunity to jump on board w/the new company, and if so, what did they do and how did it play out.

but continue to feel good about yourself by trolling, it fuels the internet.

Because the DETAILS of the situation aren't important, only the gist of it. Got it capt fail! :thumbsup:

 

[purbeast0]

IMO I would talk to the new company to at least find out the compensation they are offering.

I will say that it has been my experience that liking the company you work for is a big bonus. If it were me and they pay was about the same I would stay at the company I know and know that I like working for

oh yea, there is no way i'd stay here for the same pay. and it would have to be a pretty significant raise to get me to stay as well. but at the same time, if my current company doesn't have a spot to put me in, or it's too far away or something of the likes, i'd rather take the new company at the same project than be out a job. so i'm weighing all my options for sure.

im not really asking for advice on what to do in my situation because i know it's just a personal decision (and not trying to sound like a dick there) i'm wondering more about people who have gone through this and how it worked out and what not.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I say go where the work is. Your company is okay with y'all staying with the new co because they don't have any work for you. Imo

 

[purbeast0]

I say go where the work is. Your company is okay with y'all staying with the new co because they don't have any work for you. Imo

well it's not that, they want me to stay with them and they will even negotiate to keep me. they just understand that we have our own lives and have to do what is in the best interest for us.

like i said, i really like this company and a lot of it is because of how the management and culture of the company is, and this right here is kind of an example of how great the culture is. that they realize my best interest comes first. hell this company HATES when people work more than 40 hours a week or on weekends, and if you don't work 40 hours a week every now and again (take a half day on friday) they are cool with it too, w/out having to use any personal time off.

and when we do have to work extra hours or come in on weekends, we get paid for it. and we're all salaried.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

It's sad that ethics have to actually be taught in school. Now I know why.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

thanks captain obvious.

i was asking if people had every been in a situation where the contract they were working on was awarded to someone else and they had the opportunity to jump on board w/the new company, and if so, what did they do and how did it play out.

My wife had an opportunity like that earlier this year -- a competitor won a contract her company previously had and her former boss happened to work at that competitor and called her up and offered her a position. She did not take it and instead, decided to leave the industry altogether a few months later.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You need to find out if the new contractor is going to offer you an increase. Many times on the competitive contracts; the technical proposals are similar and the new winner expects to absorb 1/3 to 2/3 of the existing incumbent staff for the relative projects.

Management changes; support staff is expected to move over.
The bids are designed that way with the cost savings being that some dead wood can be cut from the support staff and put in leaner management staff.

If no new money; then look at the potential within the existing company for growth

 

[blackdogdeek]

i would switch to the new company. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. i've been out of work before and it was awful especially with a mortgage and kids. that experience has taught me the value of a steady check even for less than desirable circumstances.

 

[mike2fix]

Been there done that. Exact same situation, contractor working for the Govt, company lost contract, new company came in. I stayed, new company offered a substantial raise for me to stay. New company sucked as did the new contract way of doing things. Just remember, the new company may promise you the moon because they do NEED you to make the transition, after that all bets are off. You won't know what the new company is really like until a few months into the changeover. I stayed for a month or so and then we parted ways, I had been there about 7 years with various companies holding the contract. The new company and I did not see eye to eye on many things that they wanted to change.

 

[purbeast0]

Been there done that. Exact same situation, contractor working for the Govt, company lost contract, new company came in. I stayed, new company offered a substantial raise for me to stay. New company sucked as did the new contract way of doing things. Just remember, the new company may promise you the moon because they do NEED you to make the transition, after that all bets are off. You won't know what the new company is really like until a few months into the changeover. I stayed for a month or so and then we parted ways, I had been there about 7 years with various companies holding the contract. The new company and I did not see eye to eye on many things that they wanted to change.

cool thanks for the reply with your experience.

yea i mean there is no way in hell i'd stay with them if there was no pay increase, UNLESS my current company just had no place to put me. that is really the only way i'd do that, and if i couldn't find something else. it's better to have a job than be out a job.

and yea i will pretty much LOL at them if they don't offer me a pretty substantial raise and a great benefits package.

 

[purbeast0]

bump to see if anyone else has been in this situation.

 

[EagleKeeper]

cool thanks for the reply with your experience.

yea i mean there is no way in hell i'd stay with them if there was no pay increase, UNLESS my current company just had no place to put me. that is really the only way i'd do that, and if i couldn't find something else. it's better to have a job than be out a job.

and yea i will pretty much LOL at them if they don't offer me a pretty substantial raise and a great benefits package.

Do not expect such.

Have seen this situation with DOD support contracts and NASA.

The contracts are won because of a lower cost for same services. Where does the cost savings come from; personnel

 

[purbeast0]

Do not expect such.

Have seen this situation with DOD support contracts and NASA.

The contracts are won because of a lower cost for same services. Where does the cost savings come from; personnel

eh you have no idea why the contract was won. it could be for many different reasons.

but they told me this week i'll have an offer from them. i'm curious to see what it is going to be.

 

[IronWing]

This is a fairly common occurrence with government contractors particularly on DOE and DOD projects. When I was working on a DOE project the prime contractor was replaced and out of 300+ people on the project only four or five folks were replaced.

 

[iGas]

Do what best for yourself, but be careful not to burn any bridge.

I was in similar situation in the past and I was crewed by my former employer, however I'm glad that I got out of the IT rat race and got into the trades (better salary, better benefits, and better hours).

 

[purbeast0]

So the initial offer was about a 11% raise. the thing is, the new company doesn't cover health/dental/vision 100% which my old company does, so that would be coming out of my pocket, which would be like $500/mo for my family and I. So I said f that.

They asked me what I would consider and I highballed a number which is about 42% raise.

They came back with a 36% raise.

I'm going to let them know by Friday and start Monday if so. Chances are I'm going to take this though. It's a serious raise and will be EXTREMELY helpful (obviously heh). It will also set a new standard for a salary for me in my career.

 

[Gibson486]

$500 a month for a whole family? What does it cover? nothing?

 

[purbeast0]

$500 a month for a whole family? What does it cover? nothing?

huh?

it covers medical/dental/vision. copay is $10 for general practice visits and specialists.

not exactly sure what you mean 'what does it cover' i've always had insurance that covers similarly to what i mention above.

it's blue cross blue shield and VSP for vision.

 

[deadlyapp]

huh?

it covers medical/dental/vision. copay is $10 for general practice visits and specialists.

not exactly sure what you mean 'what does it cover' i've always had insurance that covers similarly to what i mention above.

it's blue cross blue shield and VSP for vision.

I think he just feels that the amount coming out of pocket seems low. Seems about normal for me from a company that provides decently.