Negotiating a contract extension (Part 2)

Last week we talked about how to negotiate for more money during your contract extension. Continuing with that discussion, we will examine other terms within a contract that are negotiable. For many travelers, a lifestyle enhancement or additional conveniences are more enticing than a larger paycheck. Ideally, you'll be able to negotiate for both, more money and better conditions. But if the agency will not budge on paying you more, there are still a few ways you can sweeten the deal during an extension.

Change your schedule

It's common for travelers to get stuck on the "off-shifts". Working nights or every weekend can really wear you down if you want to get out and enjoy your new assignment location. During your negotiations for extending, you can express to your manager that you want to change to a shift and schedule that fits your lifestyle. Whether that's switching from working five 8-hour shifts to working three 12-hour shifts or getting a block 7-on 7-off schedule, it never hurts to ask for what you want. Many times they will comply with your requests in order to keep you onboard. Whatever you and the manager agree upon, make sure it is written clearly in the new contract before you sign.

Choose how long you want to stay

The average contract length for a traveler is 13-weeks. Sometimes you may find one that is longer and very seldom will you find something shorter. One of the great things about a contract extension is that you can indicate exactly when you want your contract to end. Most extensions default to the standard 13-weeks. However, If you want to stay on for an entire year, let the facility know. Or if you want to time the end of your contract to coincide with a holiday in the next 3 weeks, you can do that too. When extending, be sure to specify the exact date when you want the contract to end.

Request time off

During an extension is the perfect chance to request for contracted time off. If you want to go back home, visit family, or just need to take a well-deserved break, you can include it in your contract extension. This is a great way to take a vacation without losing insurance benefits. You can request for your extension to start two or three weeks after the first contract ends. Similarly, you can have specific dates off written into the middle of the next contract. Be sure to clearly communicate the needed time off with both your recruiter and manager so that everybody is on the same page. Once again, be sure to have your requests written into the contract extension before you sign it.

Train in a different department

With constant exposure to new policies, procedures, analyzers and operating systems, travelers must learn quickly and become competent in an ever-changing environment. Many of us still crave to learn more. During your extension you may want to learn a new skill to add to your resume.

This is an excellent time to request training in a new department. Since the facility already knows you and is familiar with your work ethic, they may be elated to cross-train you in a different area. This additional instruction may reduce the monotony of your typical work and immensely boost your resume. Learning new skills for free is always a great way to help secure future jobs, and greater wages.

Ask for what you want

Ultimately you can ask for nearly anything you want during an extension. The worst that will happen, is they say "no". Get creative in your requests. If you need new scrubs, send your agency the bill. Do you want an agency embroidered lead apron or lab coat, I'm sure they'll happily send you one. If you want your agency to send your department coffee delivered by a therapy dog every Friday, ask for it! I think you get the point.

When it comes down to it, both the agency and hospital realize that you and your time are incredibly valuable. If they can't directly increase your wages during the extension, ask them what they can do for you to improve the deal. You may be surprised at what they are willing to do in order to keep you on the job and satisfied.

If you've had a successful contract extension negotiation and would like to share, please tell us about it in the comments section below. If you are in the middle of a negotiation and aren't too sure how to proceed, feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help.