Have you worked on a handshake?
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/29/2006 - 16:58.
I don*t think I*ve ever had a contract. I*ve gotten a letter stating salary and start date, but that*s it.
All my jobs have been "at will" employment. Which, from what I understand, means I can leave at any time with or without a reason, and I can be asked to leave at any time with or without a reason.
That seems to be pretty typical in the states for full time work.
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Hey all....
My first "proper" gig in advertising I worked on a handshake. That is, I had no contract, just a verbal agreement that I show up and get paid X. After almost a year of insecurity I told my boss on a Tuesday when I was really frustrated about work that I quit and I was ready to leave then and there (job insecurity is a two-way street and I wanted him to learn this lesson). He convinced me to finish an ad so I stayed until Thursday that week but left then.
I*ve worked on hanshakes since then as well, and could*ve gotten really screwed. I*ve only been screwed in the usual can*t take bank-loans/have no pension savings sorta way. So I*m just curious, how many here have worked "contract-less"? Is it as common as I think it is?
I*d say about 50% of the time I deal with a contract. Maybe even less. It all depends on the clients I*m dealing with. Seems that the trend is the larger the shop the more paper work there is to sign.