'I'm already looking forward to a [stress-free] Holiday:' Contractor leaves job without notice, company thinks he's on vacation, keeps getting paid

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Oct 13, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Living the dream would be getting paid for you to relax and do whatever you want. That is a rare dream to achieve, however. In this society, you have to work hard in order to be able to relax and do whatever you want. (Or be a nepo baby, but that's a whole other ballgame…) So how can you get to live like that?

 

Well, this contractor figured it out, at least for a little bit. He was hired by contract at at company his girlfriend also worked at. If you are contracted and not a full-time hire, then the rules are different. For instance, maybe you don't get PTO or whatever. This guy, however, was able to slide through the cracks and is now getting paid to basically not work. You see, his contract said nothing about having to put in a two-weeks or alert the higher ups when he was done. So he simply just left and left it up to them to figure out that he was gone. In the meantime, they're still paying him until his contract is up, which is for several more months. 

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  • Cheezburger Image 10562676224
    via Unsplash+ (and Curated Lifestyle)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Last week I signed a contract with a new company (NewCo). No specifics, but I work in tech and was headhunted for this new role.
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  • I made my online CV searchable and within a couple of hours I'd been contacted. They must have had an alert set up or something, which is simultaneously flattering and a bit creepy...
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  • Anyway, my old company (OldCo) were "going places" (their words, not mine) when I joined in 2022.
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  • The terms of my contract were clear: 3 years, working solely on Project A. Pretty straightforward.
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  • the Unfortunately company had a silent partner (SilentCo), who became increasingly less silent as time progressed.
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  • Project A not only required funding from SilentCo, but it also needed to run alongside multiple other projects both within OldCo and at some of SilentCo's other subsidiary companies.
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  • I always manage my own projects, and being reliant on other projects in other companies wasn't just something that I hadn't been told about - it was something that I'd asked about and specifically been told that Project A was unrelated.
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  • To say that I was disappointed when I found out that I'd been lied to would be an understatement, but I always consider myself a professional and try to behave accordingly.
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  • I still had the majority of my contract to run, was being well- paid and, most importantly, I enjoy my work.
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  • However, the bond of trust with OldCo had been irreparably broken. OldCo would shift timelines, SilentCo would delay funding, the project was overrunning by months and the costs were increasing.
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  • Budgets were being allocated to Project A, then being withdrawn and redistributed to other projects. I would just do my part, getting everything done that I could, providing reports on where we were, why we needed other projects to be completed before we could move forward with Project A, and giving adjusted dates on when this could be achieved.
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  • These reports were pretty thorough and were sent every time something happened elsewhere that directly impacted Project A.
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  • Feedback was minimal. Occasionally I'd get a "thanks for the update", but mostly there was no response from OldCo or SilentCo.
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  • Due to all the delays and removal of funding, Project A is nowhere near complete but, as I mentioned earlier, I signed a 3 year contract in 2022 - that contract ended 2 days ago.
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  • Not one person from OldCo or SilentCo has been in contact regarding a new contract or an extension.
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  • Total silence. So, 2 days ago I went into the office, put my laptop and phone on the desk, wrote a generic "thank you and goodbye" letter to leave next to it, and walked out for good.
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  • There's a chance they think I'm on holiday - contractors don't get paid leave, but I had mentioned to a few people that me and my girlfriend were off to somewhere warm in October, but it's not as if it was added to a work calendar or anything.
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  • So who knows! My job with NewCo starts in January, and I'm in the fortunate position of being able to afford a few months off, so I'm already looking forward to a Christmas and New Year completely absent of work or stress.
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  • Neither OldCo nor SilentCo have been in touch yet, but presumably they'll eventually realise I'm gone.
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  • My consultant rates are pretty reasonable if they want me to do a proper handover - and I'll do it, as I have no issue with anyone outside management (everyone else I dealt with was lovely).
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  • The clock is ticking though, and it will be done on my terms and at my convenience.
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  • UPDATE: h I, didn't expect so many notifications! It's a throwaway account BTW- should have mentioned that.
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  • I saw someone had checked for botness (not a word). I'm literally off to the airport in half an hour, but I'll answer your questions.
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  • Cheezburger Image 10562676480
    via Unsplash+ (and Jornada Produtora)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Some might call this devious and unfair, but so is capitalism! Why can't we just do what makes us happy and be able to survive off of that?? 

  • "If no contract extension was offered or given, you didn't quit you were let go." I said I'd left, not quit.
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  • These contracts are generally extended (or an extension offered) once it becomes obvious that the original timeframe won't be met.
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  • In this instance | suspect that either OldCo and Silent Co both thought it was the other's responsibility and nothing was done, or (more likely) they're badly managed and it never occurred to them.
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  • "Would sort of love to work for a company like this, since it seems like you could get away with just about anything." Believe me, you wouldn't - it's incredibly frustrating!
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  • "I just want to say this was well written, clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
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  • There are so many confusing posts on Reddit and I was happy to see this one where it was clear what was happening." Thank you.
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  • My English teacher would be so proud. "I would have negotiated an extension until project a was done and then slacked off to the point they fired me." To be honest, once I'd been blatantly lied to initially, I had no interest in extending.
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  • Also wouldn't want a firing on my record! "If I were leader at oldco | would be disappointed.
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  • Does OP have any concern about possible damage to reputation in the profession/ industry?" If I were the cause of any of the delays then professional pride would have possibly made me stay and clear my mess up, but that wasn't the case here.
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  • OldCo lied to get me on board, knowing that I wouldn't have joined if they'd been honest with me.
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  • I don't think they're in a position to be disappointed in me! "You seem pretty organised, OP, so you've probably checked anyway, but does your contract have a silent/auto renewal clause?
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  • In the UK, for example, the end of a fixed term contract can be deemed a dismissal, so certain processes should be followed for the contract to end.
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  • If they aren't, they contract may continue to be valid, especially if the employment surpasses the two year mark.
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  • All depends on the wording of the contract." The contract specified a fixed end date; no rolling month-to- month extension or anything like that.
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  • As I mentioned above, this is fairly standard, but it's on the company to offer an extension or renewal, rather than on me to chase one.
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  • "I'm curious about what constitutes a reasonable consultant rate." Me too! Beach time. See you in a couple of weeks.
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  • Maybe they'll have noticed by then. If not, my ego will take a big hit!
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