Backing out of a Contract

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Is it feasible to back out of contract after it is signed? I have not yet departed for my assignment but am already seeing the error of my ways. The contract is for Hawaiii, unfortunately I was remiss in not checking out rates for car rentals etc. but was assured by my recruiter that the corporate rate would be good. It's over a thousand dollars a month!

That, along with the next to impossible task of finding affordable adequate housing has left me in a quandary. I have already booked my flight, and had every intention of fulfilling this contract, but it looks more and more like it's undoable. The contract was just signed this week and my start date is slated for mid-March. The only verbiage I see relating to penalties missed shift charges at a rate of $29/hr. Could I could conceivably be charged for the entire contract of 36 hrs./wk x 13 wks?

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You made several mistakes here. One was thinking Hawaii is more than a working vacation. Be happy to break even! Second was accepting a contract with unreasonable penalties. Generally penalties should reflect actual agency expenses. If you are paying for housing, all that is left is travel, and I'll bet you haven't been paid anything yet. Yes, they can charge you that missed hour penalty for all missed hours even though they don't have real damages.

Will they charge you? That is less likely. Depending on the agency, they may or may not bill you. They may or may not ding your credit. They may even take you to court although that doesn't happen very often. Even if they take you to court and win, they may not be able to collect. Frankly, they take a risk by being too aggressive. If you name them online, every traveler who sees it is unlikely to take an assignment with them at a cost of $20,000 a year per missed traveler.

None of that matters if you take the assignment. Don't rent a car. Buy a bicycle or take the bus. Rent a room. Enjoy the beach, windsurf, scuba. Have a great time!

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I was not expecting to do better than break even, and thought paying for plane fare up front then getting reimbursed was standard. The hosptial has hired several travelers and there are multiple posts on craigs list for the same time frame. I definitely feel like I bit off more than I can chew. Now do I back out gracefully or go forward and wing it? if I had to leave after arriving would that be less desirable than reneging now?

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I'm not sure backing out gracefully is possible, but it depends on the agency and how they might be feeling today. You've already received money from them? What Craigslists posts are you talking about?

Personally, I would go ahead and do the assignment. You just need to wrap your head around it and forge forward.

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I have not received any money from them, the craig list posts are other travel nurses looking for housing at the same time same place. My main concern is what if I cannot find housing? Do I travel somewhere without housing secured?

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I've been traveling for 20 years and only when I first started was housing "secured" before I went. Up to you of course. Housing is fluid, every one of those travelers arriving is replacing another traveler. At any given time, thousands of tourists and business travelers are coming and going.

Why not get provided housing from the agency if you are concerned?

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No company housing provided. Where do I stay, hotel?

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This conversation is circular. Where did you plan to stay when you decided to accept the stipend instead of provided housing? Where was your confirmed housing? What has changed?

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This agency does not provide housing only stipend. I was given a contact by the manager of the unit of a cottage that a staff member was renting out. That did not pan out, they are looking for a long term lease, and also warned me that finding housing in Maui is extremely difficult right now. I had no idea. I had been perusing craigs list and thought that I could surely find a room to rent from someone. No such luck. I have continued to search and reply to any housing options, I am open to everything its just such a competitive market right now it's not looking good. Everything is either overpriced, long term lease, or multiple replies, "25 within 15 minutes of a posting", so luck of the draw I guess.

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Specializes in Psych.

There are multiple threads in this forum listing alternative websites to search for housing. At one of my facilities travelers would email or fax in a flyer to our secretary who would post it on our break room wall looking for housing. Every single one of those travelers was able to secure a room in staff members home. Reasonable price and they then already knew someone before the assignment started. You have to learn to step out of your comfort zone. That's what traveling is all about. Good luck whatever you do.

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As far as multiple sites for housing goes, I am aware and have used them. Is the secretary you speak of with the agency or working at the hospital? I have requested the agency contact people at the hospital or HR in regard to facilitating housing for the travelers to no avail. I am not afraid to step out of comfort zone as I have lived and worked in many uncomfortable places over the years. This is not about comfort its about the practicality of finding housing. I cannot just assume someone is going to take me into their home.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

With a quick search on craigslist I saw a number of places that would be affordable on a standard stipend. Even more so if you got together with another traveler.... Split rent in a 2 or 3 bedroom place.

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