Declining Assignments

Sometimes an assignment just isn't the right fit, or you're not available when an operator needs you. That's completely understandable — the important thing is to decline promptly and professionally so the operator can find someone else.

When to Decline an Assignment

It's perfectly acceptable to decline an assignment when:

You're not available during the requested time
You have a scheduling conflict with another commitment
The location is too far for you to travel
You don't have the required qualifications or certifications
The work type isn't something you're comfortable with
Personal circumstances prevent you from taking on the work

How to Decline an Assignment

Sign in to your Contractor Portal at /contractor
Find the assignment in your Pending Assignments section
Click on the assignment to view the details
Click the Decline button
Select a reason from the dropdown menu (this helps operators understand and isn't held against you)
Optionally, add a brief note if you'd like to provide more context
Click Confirm Decline

Choosing a Decline Reason

When declining, you'll be asked to select a reason. Common options include:

Reason	When to Use
Schedule conflict	You have another commitment at that time
Not available	You're taking time off or unavailable for personal reasons
Location too far	The travel distance isn't practical
Short notice	You weren't given enough lead time
Other commitment	You have non-work obligations
Not suitable	The assignment type doesn't match your skills or preferences

Selecting an accurate reason helps operators understand your situation and can improve future matches.

What Happens When You Decline

After you decline:

The operator is notified immediately
The assignment is removed from your pending list
The operator can offer the work to another contractor
Your decline is recorded (but declining reasonable offers won't affect your standing)

Declining Gracefully

A few tips for maintaining good relationships with operators:

Respond quickly — The sooner you decline, the more time the operator has to find a replacement
Be honest — Use the reason that genuinely reflects why you can't accept
Keep it professional — A brief, courteous note goes a long way
Update your availability — If you're declining due to schedule conflicts, make sure your availability calendar reflects this

Can Declining Affect My Standing?

Declining assignments is a normal part of contracting, and operators understand that you can't accept every offer. However, a few things to keep in mind:

Frequent last-minute declines may affect your reputation with specific operators
Declining accepted assignments (cancelling) is different from declining initial offers and should be avoided when possible
Keeping your availability current reduces the number of offers you need to decline

If You Need to Cancel an Accepted Assignment

Cancelling an assignment you've already accepted is different from declining an initial offer. If you've accepted work but can no longer complete it:

Navigate to the assignment in your Upcoming Assignments section
Click Cancel Assignment
Provide a reason for the cancellation
If possible, give as much notice as you can

Cancellations should be reserved for genuine emergencies or unavoidable circumstances. Frequent cancellations can affect your reputation with operators.

Preventing Unnecessary Declines

To reduce the number of assignments you need to decline:

Keep your availability up to date at /availability
Set your work preferences in your profile
Specify your travel radius so you only receive local offers
Update your qualifications so you're matched with appropriate work

When your profile and availability are current, operators can send you better-matched offers, reducing the need to decline.