I worked as a contractor for a local government department. It was a fixed term contract that would periodically be extended if other projects became available. I was an excellent employee, always worked hard and made sure everything was done before I left for the day. Trained up a colleague to help with a project I was working on and he was able to do the entire project on his own while I was moved to another project.
My hard work and good attitude had been noticed by the government department staff. There was talk of a permanent, full time position being made available and it was openly discussed with me by several senior members of staff including the main manager who manages all the contracts and makes the big decisions. I explained to them that I needed a permanent role as I was wanting to purchase a house, and the contracting hours could often be unpredictable (over the year and a half that I was there, I was let go twice because they didn't have any hours for me).
The manager of the contracting firm was also aware I was interested in the permanent role as I asked him about it the second time I was let go. I had a colleague named Hank who started work with the contracting firm on the same day that I did, and while the role I was interested in, Hank applied for and was interviewed for another permanent role, and was hired. Based on this event I figured it would be the same scenario for me as well seeing as the government department staff all liked me and had encouraged me to apply for the role I was interested in – even going so far as to tell me I was the leading applicant.
Finally the permanent role I am interested in is advertised in December and I apply – sent through my cv and an excellent cover letter. I told my department manager I had applied and to look out for my application.
Fast forward a few weeks until mid January and I receive an email back from my department manager informing me that my application has been declined due to the master service agreement between the contracting firm and the government department. First thing I did was phone him and ask what the hell is going on. He apparently had no idea about this agreement. The first question I ask him was “Hank was able to get a permanent job, and you guys knew I was interested in this role so what's the story?” He couldn't give me an answer.
I spoke with the contracting manager who claimed not to know I was interested in the role (even though I explained to him that I was interested in it the second time I was let go due to lack of hours), and that the scenario with Hank happened because “it was a different situation”. He wouldn't give me any more details than that. The way I saw it was that nobody ever informed me I wouldn't have been able to apply for the role (including the main manager who handles all the contract negotiations and could have told me this might have been the case, but he never did).
They were prepared to make an exception for my colleague but not for me even though we both started on the same day and both worked really hard at what we did. When I spoke to Hank he told me that he had been approached by another company and had been planning to leave so they decided to bend the rules in order to keep him. The contracting manager said I should have come to him before applying (even though another contractor who applied for Hank's role received the same treatment as I did) so basically they pick and choose who the rules applied to and who they didn't.
I made it clear to all parties involved that the whole situation was extremely embarrassing for me and that I was planning to leave altogether because the experience had greatly soured my feelings towards the whole situation, and because my contract was up at the end of January anyway. I was made to believe I stood a chance at getting this role when clearly I never did. I did see in my contract when i looked it over that you cannot apply for roles at the government department however due to the discussions I had with the government department manager plus Hank getting a permanent role I thought this wouldn't be a problem.
I felt a distinct change in the atmosphere once I received that email from the department manager in mid January – all of a sudden it began to feel like a hostile environment so something within me was telling me that it was time to go before things got worse.
The contracting manager then had the audacity to tell me that they still wanted to keep me on for another 3 month project. In other words, they were clearly aware of my needs for full time permanent employment but refused to meet those needs (even though they were happy to do so for Hank) yet they expected me to stick around for another 3 months (which I'd probably get let go of again at the end anyway).
I refused any ongoing employment with the contracting firm, explained that my current contract was ending at the end of January and I would walk out for the last time on Friday the 28th (Monday was a holiday).
I have not found another job as of yet but I am proud of myself for standing up to them and putting self respect before money. I don't regret my decision in the slightest. The last I heard the contracting manager's daughter has filled my position even though I saw it advertised online, so I am wondering if they had trouble filling the role.
(Names changed for privacy reasons)