Job offer withdrawn

[Phantomquartz]

I have just had a job offer for a contract role withdrawn because I needed time off to go to a medical appointment.

The role was through an agency and at each stage I had checked with the agent that they'd mentioned that I'd need to be able to attend the appointment and preferably I'd like to work from home that day. I had been told it was fine through 2 stages of interviews and was offered the job yesterday and was expecting the written offer today.

This morning I was told that they couldn't allow me to work from home and since it will take too long to get into the office after the appointment, they were withdrawing the offer.

Can I do anything?

[lalalonglegs]

Bumping for you. Is it a one-off appointment? It sounds very odd.

[Phantomquartz]

The appointment is a regular weekly appointment for an hour 9-10am. Apparently they've said they need someone in the office 8am - 6pm 5 days a week.

[lalalonglegs]

I'm no expert but if it's for a genuine medical reason/problem, could their refusal to give you the job be construed as discrimination? If not, can the appointment be rescheduled? I hope an HR expert comes along.

[iPaddy]

You want to work from home one day a week every week? I'm not surprised they withdrew the offer in that case.

[amyhamster]

Yes asking to work at home one day a week before you've even started isn't on, sorry

[Phantomquartz]

But they took me through 2 interviews despite knowing this. If it wasn't on, why did they even interview me?

[iPaddy]

Maybe the agency didn't actually check, did you mention it yourself?

[snowmummy]

Sounds like the agent hasn't been honest with the employer, maybe?

[Phantomquartz]

No I know the agent was clear - and also I asked him to mention it at each stage. I didn't want to get to a late stage and have this situation. The problem is that with the hours they were suggesting, there is no way that i could get to an appointment at all.